The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-12-03

The wheat may be SOWn DroaQcaSl
over the field from a 2-bushel bag
slung over the shoulder and under
one arm, at the rate of s or pecks
per acre. The sown seed should then
be covered by narrowing with an or
binary harrow. The use of broadcast
seeders would tighten this labor, but
such implements are almost unknown
in the South, The man sowing the
grain saves much labor and can SOW
more evenly and rapidly if he scat
ters the seed while standing or sit
ting in the rear end of a wagon be-
ing drawn slowly back and forth
across the field.
When wheat follows other than a
cultivated crop, the plowing of the
land is necessary. The land should
be plowed to a depth of about 7
inches several weeks before seeding.
It should then be narrowed at once
and worked down with harrow, disk,
drag, or roller in such manner as
to kill all weeds that start to grow
and to settle the subsoil and prepare
a. fine, mellow seed bed to inches
deep. When it is necessary to plow
Just before seeding, as when catch
crop of cowpeas is plowed under, the
soil should be compacted by rolling
and narrowing several times before
seeding. after which seeding should
be carried on as outlined above.
Time of Sowing Wheat.
Wheat can be sown in the States
bordering on the gulf over rather
long period, extending from the mid
die of October to the latter part of
January. The best time for seeding
is about November l in the northern
part of these States, and November
Is in the central part.
A good growth of the plant is
necessary before cold weather be-
gins, yet if the plant becomes joint
ed injury from freezing may result.
If seeding is delayed until very late
in the winter sufficient winter growth
is not secured, and hot weather may
cut short the growth and yields be
reduced or entirely suppressed.
Varieties
A variety that has been grown 10
cally for several years and that has
become adapted to the locality is
generally the best. The soft red win
ter wheats are best adapted. Beard
less, smooth chaffed varieties, such
as Fultz, Purple Straw, Bluestem
(not the Spring Bluestem), Georgia
Red, Golden Chaff and Currell, or
bearded smooth chaffed varieties,
such as Fulcaster, Dietz and Red
Wonder, may be grown with the
greatest chance for success. The
hard red winter wheats, such as Tur-
key and Kharkof, should not be
sown in the South.
Preparation and Sources Of Seed.
Broken, immature, and shriveled
grains, weed seeds, and all foreign
material should be removed by fan
ming and grading the seed before it
is sown. The tanning mill will also
remove smut balls and many grains
affected by scab, as these are lighter
than the sound grain.
Where sinking smut is present
and time allows, seed wheat should
be treated with a solution Of COM
mercial formalin in water. CONNER
cial formalin may be bought by the
pint or in bulk from a druggist at
a cost of so cents to 81 per pound,
and pound will treat 25 to so BUSH
els of grain. This formalin is mixed
with water at the rate of 1 pound Of
formalin to As gallons of water. All
smut balls should first be removed
from the wheat by tanning or other
wise. The seed should then be plac-
ed on a clean floor or canvas, in a
pile or layer several inches thick. 1t
is then sprinkled with the formalin
solution by means of an ordinary
sprinkling can and is shoveled over
and over until every kernel is thor
oughly wet. The grain is then
placed in a pile and covered with
sacks or other covering for two hours
or over night. 1t is then dried suf-
ficiently to run through the drills,
after which it may be sown. If sown
Immediately, considerably more
should usually be sown to the acre,
as the water absorbed has caused the
grain to swell. After treating the
seed with formalin, reinfection should
be avoided by the use of bags, bins
and implements that are free from
the disease germs. treating these al
so with formalin if necessary. This
formalin treatment will also very
materially check the disease known