Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-12

the new systems Of growing cereals ad-
Vocated by y. A. Demtschinsky of St
Peters burg, Russia. Another article
giving a method of culture embracing
notifications of those set forth by
Demtschinsky appeared in the press in
1909 as having been devised by Zehet-
mayer. At the time these papers first
appeared they served as q great slim
Mus to agricultural thought, espec-.
tally towards the study of many and
varied methods OF growing grains The
II suit was that many experiments
were carried out in Europe during the
Two wears following this publication in
order 10 try out the methods made
known by these two Investigators.
Workers at agricultural high schools
and experiment stations throughout
Germany made tests of these systems
under all kinds of conditions.
The methods of systems of grain Gull
tnre first advocated by Demtschinsky
and Zehetmayer are known as:
!. 'Phe killing method of culture of
Demtschinsky.
= The transplantng. or better the
deeper planting method, Of DENT schin-
sky.
3. The drill or furrow methcd of eul-
tere of Zehetmayer
The killing method Of culture is ear
RED out on the following plan. The seed
Of cereals is planted in rows arranged
in g1oups Three rows make up 4
group The rows of a group are 3 Il
| inches apart and the distance between
groups is one foot. The distance be-
tween plants in the row is IA inches.
When the plants are about : weeks old
| or II inches tall the soil is hilled
up about inches around each plant.
According to Demtschinskv's plans the
plants were spaced so as to allow %
square inches per plant Many modfi-
cations Of this method have been de-
rised Among these We find two rows
established as group and the dis
tance between groups sufficient To per-
nit OF killing by means OF cultivators.
1t IS obvious that the number of
plants per unit OF area soWn in ac-
eardance with this plan is much small
er than on a unit area seeded in the
ordinary manner In fact ordinary
seeding in drills gives stand of plants
ten times as numerous rs the new
method of Demtschinsky just outlined
TIE practice of billing grains brings
| about a marked increase in the number
J Of stalks per plant, in the weight PER
| plant, yield of grain per plant, in SIZE
| of kernels and straw Even though the
| number Of plants per unit area is much
| less than that obtained in ordinary
| seeding the weld of grain from unit
| area planted according to this new
| method equals that from an equal area
| alanted in ordinary drill system. How
| ever in this country this new method
| of culture requiring as II does much
| labor in planting and in billing would
| be far from Il profitable practice. While
| there is marked increase in the nroduc-
| tivity of the individual plants there Is
as vet no method worked out whereby
| ereatrr Yields can he obtained from
| large areas.
| The other method devised hY DENT
| schinsky involves the setting Of plants
| about 4 inches deeper than in ordinary
| culture This transplantlng or fatiler
| setting deeper is made when the plants
| are about n month old or to inches
| tall. The WELD of grain from plants
| handled in this way amounts to pracu-
| eally the same as from the plots IN
/ which the plants are hilled and also
!! from those nlats seeded in the drlil
| system as generally practiced- rms
| method. also. sEoWs no advantages TO
\ ha gained ever the first system mem
| Toned or over the general practice al
| seeding. 1t does. however. neeessltate
4 more labor than either of the latter
| methods. OF thu Demtschinsky methods
| of culture this one requiring mat
| nlapts he SGT deeper is least pracucai
\ in its application.
According to the Zehetmayer system
of seeding cereals the seed is sewn "a
| inch deem in the bottom of drills or
burrows which are . inches apart.
when the Young plants are about o
inches tall the ridges are leNeiled.
thereby covering the plants with SOIL.
| This stimulates the plants to great
growth. affords a deeper feeding sur
face and results in an increase in yleld
! or grain ner plant. or the new systems
Of cnlture this of Zehetmayer's is look
ed upon in Germany with most favor,
peinr as it is claimed, practical UNI
dar certain conditions. This method m
dnccs a marked increase in the mum
her ri stalks. per plant. Weld Of gram
- niant and size of kernels ana
| s,,.u, The increase of these different
characters lies about midway between
~ ras,lts obtained in ordinary Gull
,,,re ona these by the killing methods
of Demtschinsky The number of plants
nor nnit area maturing in plots soWh
according To the ZehetmaNer method Is
4 times .ls great as the number OF plants
in ,lots seeded in accordance with tae
Damtsch;nsky method and about one
| fon,ih as great as in the ORDINARY
n,athod of sowing in drills.
The amount OF seed necessary 10 SOW
an acre planted in accordance WIN
fhase new methods of culture Is very
r,u,h less than that required III 'ne
system of drilling. An area fequii ,,,9 -
Md of seed in ordinary driiiiiiS,
roonirea one and IL pounds OF seeu
in Demtschinsky' methods ana aoou'
mounds of seed in Zehetmayer cur
ture. IVA the
The killing, setting deeper ana tne
furrow systems of grain culture iio'
only stimulate the plant TO throw MOI :
,;lers and to produce more gram an"
straw hut also delays the tiilt oi iip
aninc or maturity from 8 TO ~ oas ,.
Tn each OF the systems citeo .ne'e -
-, enormous relative increase IN Tue
yield of grain per plant For EXAMINE
u.intcr harley handled under THESE o''