The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-04-26
WEAK WHEAT-HOW
TO HELP IT.

winter wheat in bad condition"
Is the general report of the condi-
ton of this important cereal
throughout the Middle West States.
A large percentage of the millions
of acres devoted ~ this crop is re-
ported to be weak and to have been
severely injured by adverse winter
ing conditions. In many places the
ground is baking, and still further
INJURY is threatened. Such serious
conditions call for immediate ac-
ton.
The farmer knows that the wheat
plant requires heat, air, moisture
and available plant food in order to
live and make satisfactory growth.
The LACK of any one of these es-
sentials means death to the crop.
A. the warm sun Of spring beats up
on the hardened wheat fields, it
causes the evaporation of hundreds
of barrels of water per day from .
% acre field, because the water con-
nectlon between the surface soil and
the water supply below is complete.
Now, to stop this great evaporation,
and to allow air to enter into the
soil spaces, the farmer must act
quickly II he Is to save his crop.
lie should roll his wheat field as
soon as 1t will bear a team upon it,
and follow this rolling Immediately
with light narrowing. If he has
"weeder" he can accomplish u
great deal Of good by going over the
wheat crop with this tool. III he has
harrows with adjustable teeth, he
should throw these teeth back at an
angle OF 40 degrees and harrow the
field, going back and forward over
the field parallel with the wheat
rows. This narrowing will not stir
the surface deep enough to injure
the wheat roots. but will help the
soil conditions greatly by preparing
IA surface mulch. This surface mulch
will break up the water connection
in the soil and effectively prevent
IN injurious amount Of evaporation.
Always follow rolling with "a light
narrowing.
IL, however. the iaiiLer does not
have IA roller, or if he does not think
il wise to roll the wheat. he can help
the weak wheat crop a great deal
by careful narrowing.
The tiny weak plant needs special
nourishment. 1t should have an
abundance of readily available PLAN
food of the right kind to give 1t a
vigorous start and maintain il in
vigorous growth. Such help can be
supplied by broadcasting 100 to 300
pounds per acre of fertilizer an
alyzing about 3 TO per cent am.
monia, u to s per cent phosphoric
acid, and to Z per cent pota sh.
This should be broadcasted or dis
tributed on the wheat through the
fertilizer attachment of the wheat
drill. If the wheat drill is used. of
course the disks will be left sus-
pended so that they will not cut the
youne wheat plant. This fertihzeu
should be put on the wheat instead of
fore it is rolled. The narrowing will
work it into the soil.
The above operations can be ear
ried ON even until the wheat is up 4
inches, without injury to the crop.
This practice is common among Eu-
ropean wheat growers.
Ii grass and clover seed is sowr
lupou The wheat field in early spriny,
practice of this early cultivation
will bury the sed sufficiently deep
TO Insure good termination. The
addition Of available plant food in
lthe forms. mentioned, will greatly
Increase the chances of IA successful
"catrA of grass"
BY such treatment. weak wheat
will be greatly benefited and mater
ially assisted towards profitable
Weld OF superior quality of grain.
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