Middletown transcript., 1917-07-28
INCREASETHE WHEAT
This Would Require More Careful
Soil Preparation
AN IDEAL BED NECESSARY

Wheat requires more careful soil
preparation than most field crops. The
labor required to put the soil in good
condition for seeding will depend largely
on the character of the previous crop
and the nature of the soil. Hence, an
important factor in producing satisfac-
tory yields of wheat is the proper rota-
on of crops. Wheat should not be
grown two years in succession on the
same land if the best results are to be
secured with all crops in the rotation.
1t is thoroughly well established that
the most profitable yields are secured
through series of years, only when
some legumes is included in the rota-
ton. On most Delaware farms red
clover is commonly grown, while on the
lighter, more sandy types of soil, other
legumes such as soy beans, cow peas
and crimson clover can be used to better
advantages. These crops not only in
crease the moisture holding supply of
the soil but also add largely to the nj
trogen supply.
The proper place for wheat in a crop
rotation depends on local conditions,
but generally in Delaware it is after
corn, potatoes or some cultivated crop,
or after cow peas. or soy beans. On
light land cow peas greatly increase the
yield. The largest yields of high quality
wheat are more likely to follow red or
crimson clover.
Seed bed preparation is one of the
most expensive items in growing wheat.
Flowing may often be omitted and
disking substituted. Where wheat fol-
lows corn it pays to cultivate thoroughly
the corn crop keeping the soil mellow
and free from weeds throughout the
summer. When the corn is removed
the land should be we'll disked and
leveled with spike harrow. This
leaves firm seed bed with loose mulch
on top. Flowing the land after corn is
not necessary unless very weedy and
may be injurious as the soil is left too
loose. The common practic of plowing
land after corn often delays the seeding
so much that the wheat plant does not
get sufficient growth to pass the winter
in good condition. Disking of the land
would lessen the labor and seeding
might be done earlier. The labor nee
essary for properly compacting the soil
after plowing is often as great as the
preparation without plowing. Where
wheat follows potatoes, tomatoes or
other hoed crops disking or narrowing
will fit the soil satisfactory. Green ma
nure crops such as cow peas and soy
beans should be turned under early
enough to enable the land to be thor
oughly settled before seeding time.
Where wheat follows wheat, oats or
other harvested crops plow the land four
to six inches deep as early in the season
as possible and work down each one-half
day blowing before leaving the field.
Harrow or disk the field after every
rain or as often as crust forms, until
seeding time, to kill the weeds and to
retain moisture. This leaves the soil in
a condition to germinate seed promptly
and evenly, a factor of great import
ance in getting a uniform stand of
vigorous plants. An ideal seed bed is
firm, free from trash and covered with
a fine soil mulch two or three inches in
depth.
A. E. Grantham, Agronomist,
Delaware Experiment Station,
Newark, Delaware.