Page 1 |
Previous | 1 of 16 | Next |
|
|
Loading content ...
VOL,. LXVIII INDIANAPOLIS, AUG. 2, 1913 NO. 31 Preparing for Next Year's Wheat Crop Wheat growing in Indiana Is getting to be an important topic of discussion. The success of this year's crop will encourage the growers to take great pains in preparing for next year's crop, for wheat, like a number of other crops, is successful in direct proportion to the preparation that is made for the sowing of the seed. High grade seed is also an essential in successful wheat production, but the follow- ing paragraphs deal only with the preparation of the se«,l bed. If wheat is to follow corn, oats or wheat, the preparation of the ground should begin as quickly as possible now. If wheat is to be seeded in corn, the last two cultivations given should be such as to keep down weeds and grass and keep the ground loose and moist. To this end a hard crust should not bo i>ILe»ad to fcsl.TQn . The best approved methods of corn cultivation are nearly the ideal directions for preparing a fine seed bed for wheat and those farmers who practice approved methods in corn culture are fortunate when wheat seeding time arrives. Deep plowing early in the spring, followed by two deep cultivations, then gradually decreasing the depth of cultivation until late in the summer, when the aim is to maintain a dust mulch on the surface are the best methods known for preparing wheat ground. The dust mulch conserves moisture, it keeps down the weeds and it makes a mellow seed bed on the surface. The change from the deep cultivation to the shallow insures a compact subsoil, which is highly desirable; and when late cultivations are practiced they are sure to maintain a large amount of moisture. Unless the corn crop is further advanced than most that we have seen ln Central Indiana, a cultivation can be given with profit in July after each rain. This will keep the soil in excellent tilth for seeding time. For these late cultivations one horse and a fine tooth cultivator may be employed; the cultivator should be extended wide enough to cover the row at one passage. Care must always be taken, however, not to dig too deep or to get too close to the corn in these light cultivations, especially if the ground is dry and crusted. Early and Thorough Preparation Desired. If wheat is to follow oats or wheat, the earlier the ground is plowed the better condition it will be in at seeding time. Indeed, to secure large yields, much depends upon the time of breaking the ground. For one thing, the ground not having been plowed for some time, if allowed to dry out thoroughly after the season's crop has been How to Make the Seed Bed That Pays removed the operation of plowing will be very difficult. Then the soil, when broken early, contains more moisture; the clods are more easily pulverized; and a soil mulch'which will retain the moisture already in the ground and The successful wheat grower must give the plants every possible assistance. Next to proper drainage this assistance consists largely in having a fine, firm seed bed, well supplied with available plant food. In order to 1 Whether manure is to go on before or after plowing must be determined by the condition of the manure, whether fine or coarse, and by tho method of distribution necessary, whether it is*to be spread by hand or with a spreader. If the manure be fine, top dressing will give good results both on wheat and clover. What manure has collected about the farm during the summer is , generally fine enough to be spread over the plowed surface. If the manure be coarse, however, it is difficult to spread it evenly over the surface and finely enough so it will not clog the harrow or drill. If applied with the spreader, there la the disadvantage of exceedingly heavy draft on Csrvo plowed ground which generally forbids the use of the spreader. If the manure is not too coarse and the ground is to be broken early, it will often pay to distribute the manure before plowing commences ,as it will rot sufficiently before seeding time. Harm is done, however, when late plowing is necessary, the turning under of coarse manure, since manure will prevent prompt re-establishment the capillary action. Madison Co. W. F. P. by any the the of Wheat field of C. B. Quigg, Montgomery County, showing effects of fertilization. the right was unfertilized, that on the left received a good application. Wheat on gather all moisture that falls, is also easily maintained. The early plowing also insures the re-establishment of the capillary connection with the subsoil; and by the time the wheat is sown the water connections have again been made and the capillary water will be drawn up as needed by the young wheat plants. The Essentials of a Good Seed Bed. Therefore, it is highly desirable to break the ground as early as the flrst of August, breaking eight or nine inches deep. The soil should be worked down well as fast as plowed, the spike tooth harrow and a heavy roller being used each day, thus keeping the ground worked up to the plows and in that way not allowing any moisture to escape that could otherwise be saved. The roller tends to compact the seed bed and the harrow makes a loose surface mulch. After harrowing, let the ground lay until about the middle of September, then ro)' and harrow until the seed bed is very flne. Some successful wheat growers think it desirable to disc the ground before rolling and harrowing the last time, as the discing assists ln making the finest seed bed possible. make clear the importance of having a flne seed bed, it may be said that the wheat plant has very delicate fibrous roots which are not adapted to a loose seed bed of open soil full of air chambers, hence the plant demands a finely pulverized seed bed where its delicate rootlets can come at once into very close contact with the soil particles. It should be remembered also that the wheat crop can have no help in the way of cultivation after it is once sown, although some growers do harrow their wheat in the spring. Even so, it can readily be seen that thorough preparation of the ground before the seed ls sown is very essential, and this thorough preparation is best accomplished by the early plowing and working of the ground. It has been conclusively proved in several instances that early plowing of the soil and early preparation of the seed bed insure a higher yield. When late plowing is necessary lt is best to plow shallower than when the ground is broken early. Since the wheat plant demands a firm seed bed with a mellow surface for Its best ■growth, late plowing late in the season is not desirable for the reason that the seed bed will be too loose, METHODS OF SOWING WHEAT YEAKS AGO. It is not many weeks now until the time for sowing wheat. The time was when the soil was fresh and full of vegetable matter, that the wheat crop could be sown very early in the fall, and upon any kind of a surface, roughly plowed or harrowed in, and generally there was a splendid crop of grain. But little attention was paid to the kind or quality of the grain sown, it was sown broadcast and there was but little danger from freezing out during the winter or spring, and not many insect enemies to injure the crop. It was generally believed that the rougher and cloddier the ground at sowing time, the better it was for the crop to go through the winter in good shape. By the alternate freezing and thawing-the rough clods gradually mellowed down, feeding the plants, and keeping the roots well covered. The natural conditions of the soil met all the demands of the wheat crop, and it flourished. Methods Change With New Conditions. As the years passed, conditions changed from various causes. The soil became depleted of much of its strength, the original vegetable matter became exhausted, insect enemies became dangerous, and the preparation of the ground and putting in of the crop had to be changed to meet the Continued on page 4.
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1913, v. 68, no. 31 (Aug. 2) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA6831 |
Date of Original | 1913 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | United States - Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 2011-04-18 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Orignal scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Transcript | VOL,. LXVIII INDIANAPOLIS, AUG. 2, 1913 NO. 31 Preparing for Next Year's Wheat Crop Wheat growing in Indiana Is getting to be an important topic of discussion. The success of this year's crop will encourage the growers to take great pains in preparing for next year's crop, for wheat, like a number of other crops, is successful in direct proportion to the preparation that is made for the sowing of the seed. High grade seed is also an essential in successful wheat production, but the follow- ing paragraphs deal only with the preparation of the se«,l bed. If wheat is to follow corn, oats or wheat, the preparation of the ground should begin as quickly as possible now. If wheat is to be seeded in corn, the last two cultivations given should be such as to keep down weeds and grass and keep the ground loose and moist. To this end a hard crust should not bo i>ILe»ad to fcsl.TQn . The best approved methods of corn cultivation are nearly the ideal directions for preparing a fine seed bed for wheat and those farmers who practice approved methods in corn culture are fortunate when wheat seeding time arrives. Deep plowing early in the spring, followed by two deep cultivations, then gradually decreasing the depth of cultivation until late in the summer, when the aim is to maintain a dust mulch on the surface are the best methods known for preparing wheat ground. The dust mulch conserves moisture, it keeps down the weeds and it makes a mellow seed bed on the surface. The change from the deep cultivation to the shallow insures a compact subsoil, which is highly desirable; and when late cultivations are practiced they are sure to maintain a large amount of moisture. Unless the corn crop is further advanced than most that we have seen ln Central Indiana, a cultivation can be given with profit in July after each rain. This will keep the soil in excellent tilth for seeding time. For these late cultivations one horse and a fine tooth cultivator may be employed; the cultivator should be extended wide enough to cover the row at one passage. Care must always be taken, however, not to dig too deep or to get too close to the corn in these light cultivations, especially if the ground is dry and crusted. Early and Thorough Preparation Desired. If wheat is to follow oats or wheat, the earlier the ground is plowed the better condition it will be in at seeding time. Indeed, to secure large yields, much depends upon the time of breaking the ground. For one thing, the ground not having been plowed for some time, if allowed to dry out thoroughly after the season's crop has been How to Make the Seed Bed That Pays removed the operation of plowing will be very difficult. Then the soil, when broken early, contains more moisture; the clods are more easily pulverized; and a soil mulch'which will retain the moisture already in the ground and The successful wheat grower must give the plants every possible assistance. Next to proper drainage this assistance consists largely in having a fine, firm seed bed, well supplied with available plant food. In order to 1 Whether manure is to go on before or after plowing must be determined by the condition of the manure, whether fine or coarse, and by tho method of distribution necessary, whether it is*to be spread by hand or with a spreader. If the manure be fine, top dressing will give good results both on wheat and clover. What manure has collected about the farm during the summer is , generally fine enough to be spread over the plowed surface. If the manure be coarse, however, it is difficult to spread it evenly over the surface and finely enough so it will not clog the harrow or drill. If applied with the spreader, there la the disadvantage of exceedingly heavy draft on Csrvo plowed ground which generally forbids the use of the spreader. If the manure is not too coarse and the ground is to be broken early, it will often pay to distribute the manure before plowing commences ,as it will rot sufficiently before seeding time. Harm is done, however, when late plowing is necessary, the turning under of coarse manure, since manure will prevent prompt re-establishment the capillary action. Madison Co. W. F. P. by any the the of Wheat field of C. B. Quigg, Montgomery County, showing effects of fertilization. the right was unfertilized, that on the left received a good application. Wheat on gather all moisture that falls, is also easily maintained. The early plowing also insures the re-establishment of the capillary connection with the subsoil; and by the time the wheat is sown the water connections have again been made and the capillary water will be drawn up as needed by the young wheat plants. The Essentials of a Good Seed Bed. Therefore, it is highly desirable to break the ground as early as the flrst of August, breaking eight or nine inches deep. The soil should be worked down well as fast as plowed, the spike tooth harrow and a heavy roller being used each day, thus keeping the ground worked up to the plows and in that way not allowing any moisture to escape that could otherwise be saved. The roller tends to compact the seed bed and the harrow makes a loose surface mulch. After harrowing, let the ground lay until about the middle of September, then ro)' and harrow until the seed bed is very flne. Some successful wheat growers think it desirable to disc the ground before rolling and harrowing the last time, as the discing assists ln making the finest seed bed possible. make clear the importance of having a flne seed bed, it may be said that the wheat plant has very delicate fibrous roots which are not adapted to a loose seed bed of open soil full of air chambers, hence the plant demands a finely pulverized seed bed where its delicate rootlets can come at once into very close contact with the soil particles. It should be remembered also that the wheat crop can have no help in the way of cultivation after it is once sown, although some growers do harrow their wheat in the spring. Even so, it can readily be seen that thorough preparation of the ground before the seed ls sown is very essential, and this thorough preparation is best accomplished by the early plowing and working of the ground. It has been conclusively proved in several instances that early plowing of the soil and early preparation of the seed bed insure a higher yield. When late plowing is necessary lt is best to plow shallower than when the ground is broken early. Since the wheat plant demands a firm seed bed with a mellow surface for Its best ■growth, late plowing late in the season is not desirable for the reason that the seed bed will be too loose, METHODS OF SOWING WHEAT YEAKS AGO. It is not many weeks now until the time for sowing wheat. The time was when the soil was fresh and full of vegetable matter, that the wheat crop could be sown very early in the fall, and upon any kind of a surface, roughly plowed or harrowed in, and generally there was a splendid crop of grain. But little attention was paid to the kind or quality of the grain sown, it was sown broadcast and there was but little danger from freezing out during the winter or spring, and not many insect enemies to injure the crop. It was generally believed that the rougher and cloddier the ground at sowing time, the better it was for the crop to go through the winter in good shape. By the alternate freezing and thawing-the rough clods gradually mellowed down, feeding the plants, and keeping the roots well covered. The natural conditions of the soil met all the demands of the wheat crop, and it flourished. Methods Change With New Conditions. As the years passed, conditions changed from various causes. The soil became depleted of much of its strength, the original vegetable matter became exhausted, insect enemies became dangerous, and the preparation of the ground and putting in of the crop had to be changed to meet the Continued on page 4. |
Tags
Comments
Post a Comment for Page 1