The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-11-09

Wheat is and always should be an
important crop in the western and
northern part Of the state. 1t has
many characteristics which recon.
mend it to the farmer There is al.
ways a good market for wheat, 1t is
o. which can be transported long
distances. and It can be marketed at
ones convenience.
Good, pure seed Is of the greatest
Importance, as the miller desires
wheat which has uniform character
and Of high quality. In the greater
portion Of the state some strain Of
the hard Turkey Red should be
grown. The Kharof has proven to be
one Of the best. All the Turkey Red
varieties have high quality and good
market value when grown under fay.
orable conditions.
ANY wheat which is grown for sew
eral years where the rainfall is heavy
and conditions are not favorable will
become softer and spotted with yel-
low. These yellow spots are obiec-
tionable as they show that the wheat
is deteriorating in quality The chief
cause for this in the hard wheats is
The adverse climatic conditions.
The soil for wheat should be pre-
pared as indicated in the discussion
OF the preparation of soils Good
preparation always pays The seed
bed should be firm but not hard be-
low the depth at which the seed is
planted. Generally speaking, winter
wheat is sown from the 18th Of Sep
tember to the 18th OF October. Ac-
tual field trials in Central Oklahoma.
do not show much difference between
these dates. II wheat is to be used
for pasture purposes, the best re.
suits will be secured by early plant.
ing. In some sections the Hessian
fly Is common, and here It will be well
not to SOW before about the 10th of
October Five to six pecks of good
seed will give a perfect stand.
Continuous culture of wheat on the
same field is one Of the surest meth.
DDS Of destroying its productivity.
The evil effects. however. Of a single
crop can be largely overcome by the
liberal application of farmyard ma
ndre. In experiments at the Okla
homa Experiment Station nearly
double the yields have been secured
in series Of years from the plot
which received manure above that
which received no manure, when the
wheat was grown continuously on the
same land.
Winter wheat probably makes one
of the best winter and early spring
pastures which can be grown. Mod
crate winter pasturing viii lower the
yield to some extent, but It's value is
probably greater than the decrease in
yield. Excessive pasturing should
never be practiced II the wheat is to
be left for grain. Late spring pas
turing is especially harmful.
Seed wheat infected with smut
should be treated before it Is planted.
There are several different methods
of treating the seed to kill the smut
The easiest and perhaps the cheapest
method is the formalin treatment.
One pound, which is equivalent to one
pint, Of commercial formaldehyde Of
20 per cent strength should be placed
IN about forty-five gallons Of water
The seed is then treated with this
solution. All that is necessary is to
see that every seed is thoroughly
moistened.
Any method which will thoroughly
moisten every seed Is satisfactory.
The seed may be dipped, sprayed or
run through treating machine. Az
ter the treating is done the grain
should be shoyeled over once or twice
in piles and allowed to dry a while
80 that II will run through the drill
freely.
We assume here that everybody IN
this state uses the grain drill to plant
his wheat After the grain is treated,
be sure that It does not come in con.
tact with any smut Dip the sacks
and wash out the boxes OF the grain
drill with the same solution used to
treat the seed.
When seed wheat is properly treat.
ed 1t absolutely prevents the appear
ance of all stinking smut and most Of
the loose smut. If the smut present
is largely loose smut. what Is known
as the modified method Of hot water
treatment may give better results II
properly given. This treatment CON
sists Of soaking the seed In cold water
for a period OF four hours, then al
lowing It to remain for an equal
length OF time in the wet stacks. The
seed Is then immersed in water hav-
ing a temperature OF 1888 degrees p.
and is allowed to remain in the hot
water hve minutes II Is exceedingly
important that this temperature be
maintained After the treatment IS
completed the seed should be allowed
10 dry to some extent Enough more