VOL. XXIV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., AUG. 17..1889.
NO. 33
Wheat Tests at the Indiana Experiment
Station.
Kditors Indiana Fanner:
I send yon a brief report of this year's
trial of 24 varieties of wheat. The wheats
were grown side by side nnder similar
conditions in a compact, dark, naturally
drained soil of medium fertility. The
fatirand spring were alike, unfavorable to
wKeat in this section, and but for rains in
the last part of May and in June, the
crop must have been almost a complete
failure. In June all the varieties were
attacked by rust and the grain plant
louse, Aphis avena, and damagtd to some
extent. Considering the adverse conditions under which the crop has been produced, the good yields strongly emphasize the value of the means and methods
employed, viz: sound plump seed of
standard sorts, drilled at a uniform depth
In a thoroughly prepared, good soil, which
is subject to a rotation of crops involving
grass and olover.
The yields have been carefully calculated to the acre in every case, and are
given in the accompanying table in bushels:
YIELDS FEB ACRE.
Name. Bush.
Velvet Chaff (1) 35.8
Golden Cross (2)  :  36.0
New Monarch (4) _,.__. 31.5
Bed Fultz (3) 30.7
Ontario Wonder  _.   31.8
Michigan Amber (3) ._........ -. ;_ 31.1
Currell's Prolific .  29.0
Mealy (4) _. _ 28.6
Improved Bice .„ 30.2
Hedge's Prolific 36.3
"Velvet Chafl (brown smooth) '. 35.6
"Egyptian 42.1
Fultz  35.1
Dietz Longberry .'. „ 32.9
Original Bed 28.6
Fulcaster „ _ 33.4
Sibley's Imperial _. _. 34.4
Ilaub's Black Prolific 38.4
Wyandotte 31.3
German Emperor 33.8
Velvet Chaff (white smooth) 31 6
European „ 33.0
Velvet Chaff (white bearded) 33.7
Poole 33.4
(1) Average of eight plats.
(2) Average of two plats,
(3) Average of three plats.
(4) The same as white smooth Velvet Chaff, but
produced from seed obtained from the Department
of Agriculture, Washington, D. c.
The readers of the Indiana Fabmer
will be pleased to learn that the National
Department of Agriculture has endorsed
the Indiana Experiment Station by ordering the latter's entire supply of Velvet
Chaff seed wheat for general distribution.
This wheat heads the list, in average
yield, of varieties grown at this station.
Two other kinds, however, fall but little
behind it. The average yields per acre
of their three varieties, for the last six
years, are; Velvet Chaff (brown bearded)
31 2 bashels; Michigan Amber, 29 8 bush-
•els, and Egyptian, 29.3 bushels. The Velvet Chaf is a hardy, plump, red wheat,
having a abort straw, and i» well suited to
all rich soils .that produce a good growth
of straw. Ii is not recommended for
light, thin soi__3. The Michigan Amber is
not an amber «vt all,but adarkred,smooth
wheat, resembling the Red Fultz somewhat. It is hardy and stands well. It
will do well on any good wheat land,
but on account of its longer straw, Is not
recommended for soils whioh produce
very rank growth. The Egyptian is a
bearded red wheat nearly as hardy as
those just mentioned, is more prolifio than
either, in favorable years, but its straw is
too long and too weak for rich soils. We
can only supply seed of the Michigan
Amber but there is plenty of Velvet Chaff
in this vicinity, produced ■ from seed
grown at ;this Station. Parties desiring
seed wheat should see our advertisement
in this paper. w. C. Latta.
Purdue University, Lafayette.
The Diamond Plate-glass Company, ol
Kokomo, has opened a monster gas well
near that city. Experts say the well is the
largest In the State. <
Written for the Indiana Farmer.
Growing: Wheat.—No.   O.
BT JOHN M. STAHL.
It is bad policy to nse shrunken wheat
for seed. It Is true that a bushel of suoh
wheat will bring less than a bushel of
plump wheat, while it contains a larger
number of grains; bnt it is not the case
that the bushel of shrunken seed will produce more plants, or plants of equal vigor
and prospects. The plumpness of the
wheat is due, of course, to a greater quantity of matter, and this matter is prepared
plant food—in organio form. Until the
plant reaches the light it can not change
inorganic into organic matter, hence can
not build itself up from food got from the
ground, and therefore must have In the
seed sufficient food to build it up to the
light. The shrunken grain of wheat will
likely not contain the necessary amount
of food, and the plant from it must die
before it reaches the surface. Undoubted
ly many plants thus succumb when
shrunken wheat is used for seed. Though
the plant does reach the surface, It can not
be so strong and vigorous as the plant
from a plump grain, which has an abundant supply of prepared food at hand to
force it along. The plant from the shrunken grain is the first to sucoumb from
droutb, insects or frost. All things considered, it ls more economical to use the
best wheat for seed.
Theory indicates that a small quantity,
scarcely more than a quart of seed, per
acre would be sufficient for a very heavy
crop. Thus, nnder favorable conditions,
the wheat plant will stool until a dozen
culms are formed, and each culm will
bear a head containing 50 grains.* This
gives a yield of 600 fold. But in this practice no such yield, or anything near it,can
be got in field culture. However, I believe
that we use somewhat too much seed,
The average sown throughout the country
is between five and six pecks per acre,
My own experience is that on ground of
average fertility well prepared, from three
to four pecks of seed per acre will give
better results; and I find quite a number
who have reached the same conclusion.
But when no more seed than this is used,
all the conditions must be made favorable
to the germination of the seed and the
growth of the plant.
When six pecks of seed are put on an
acre, the average space to each grain is a
little less than four square inches. Mark
off on the ground a square each side of
which is two inohes in length, and see
how small it is. Surely this is not enough
ground, nor one sixth enough, for a plant
of a dozen or more culms. When so much
seed is sown there must be among the
plants a "struggle for existence," and a
fierce one. The weaker plants are forced
out. Those that do suooeed In getting
enough ground for the support of life are
weakened by the struggle, and yet have
not sufficient food supply for normal
stooling. If you will go over the wheat
field in the spring you will see that those
plants that have made large stools had a
foot square or more of space.
Let me advise my readers to try a little
less seed on a strip through the field.
Don't make a radical reduction in the
amount of seed; reduce it on the strip at
rate of only one peok par acre. Try this
for three years, carefully noting results.
If they are favorable to the less quantity,
sow altogether except on a strip, upon
which use a yet less quantity, as before.
It will pay to experiment a little to determine the best amount of seed per aore on
your land.
Where the two horse force feed grain
drill can be used, I would certainly use lt.
It Is the cheapest, for during its life it will
save labor costing several times more than
it. With it the grain can be more equally
distributed and more evenly covered thai
by broadcast seeding. Even covering ii
Important. The grain covered too lightly
may not germinate or the roots of the
plant from it may be dried up at the start;
while if a grain Is covered too deep the
plant from it may not be able to reaoh the
surface. The ridges made by the drill, on
well prepared ground, are of sufficient
height and solidity to hold the snow on
the wheat, to protect it; while the crumbling of the ridge?, loosened by frost, and
disintegrated by spring rains, covers and
saves the bared roots of the heaved up
plants.—The end.
Quincy, 111.
Qttmj VLU& ^nsxatv.
Give your name and address when asking questions. Many queries go unanswered for failure to
observe this rule.
Correspondents who desire an Immediate reply to
their queries shonld enclose a stamp for the purpose.
W.|H. S.: New Ross wants blue oat
fish.
—Who has them for sale? They are an
excellent fish for the table, as we can
testify.
Who of the readers of theFABMFB needs
a first class 10 horse power engine, used
but little, suitable for running light saw
mill, lathe, saw, feed mill, threshing machine, etc? W. L. T.
Fountain City.
—You should advertise the engine.
How may I obtain the bulletins, reports
etc., of Agricultural Dapartments of this
State, also of the United States?
Southport. J. W. W.
—For the former  address  Prof. H. E,
Stockbridge, Lafayette, Ind., and for  the
latter the Secretary of Agriculture, Wash
ington, D. C.
Dr. A. F. Berry, of Lawrence Co: The
plant sent is wild carrot. It is very abun
dant In western New Yorkcovering whole
fields where it has been neglected. It is a
vile weed and should be destroyed at once,
before seeding if possible, as it spreads
very rapidly, from seed. Like our cultivated carrot, It is a biennial, so that it is
easily destroyed by cutting before seeding. J. TBodr.
Purdue University.
W. H. S. of Dearborn county wanta to
know of what the Wild Cat fence ls composed, and Its cost per rod. It Is composed of rails and wire; it is a straight
fenoe and costs 18 cents per rod.      J. H.
Hamilton Co.
—If this Is a gocd fence and can be built
at so small a oost as you name, it ought to
be advertised in all farm papers. We
should like to have the address of the proprietor.   Who knows it?—Eds.
As I see nothing In the Fabmeb about
the Farmers' Alliance, I would respectfully solicit correspondence upon this
matter in your paper. I believe It to be
the proper thing for the farmers of this
State to organize in the best and strongest
organizition for their benefit, and protection, in various ways. Will you give the
number of Alliances and other organizations in this State? Also what good tbey
are accomplishing, if any ? W. C,
Anderson.
—Will the secretaries ot these organizations report to us in answer to W. C's
queries?
Which part of Indiana Is the best
adapted to apple, pear and peach oulture,
southeastern or southwestern? How far
north of the latitude of Indianapolis can
peach culture be made profitable?
Lebanon. P. A
—Both sections named are well adapted
to apple growing. Lawrence county
seems particularly favorable to the apple.
We .have not seen better prospect any
where in the State than we saw there last
week. Our northeastern lake counties are
all good apple counties. Pears succeed
well In almost all portions of the State.
Peaches are not a sure crop north of the
Ohio and Mississippi railroad, except near
our larger lakes In northern counties.
Please answer the following through the
the Fabmeb:
1. Does tbe timber culture aot applv to
the land in the Milk river region of Montana?
2. Can one buy land at ?l 25 and $2 50
per acre, lf so what Is the most one person
can buy?
3    What must one do to pre empt land.
Maxiakuckee. T. N. B.
1. No, the timber culture act doea not
not apply to the great reservation lauds in
the Milk river valley of Montana.
2. No, land cannot be bought under
the pre-emption laws there.
3. This great body of land is held for
free homestead, but the mineral title laws
extend to it. Erery person 21 years old
residing on ths land five years may have
title to 160 acres from the government.
Under the rulings of the land department, one may give notice of oocupanoy,
and then have six months in which
to begin residence on the land.
%nvo gjcpuvtmciit
BY VINSON CARTBB, K6Q.,  THIB CITT.
Correspondents who desire an immediate reply to
their queries should enclose a stamp for the purpose.
If A should rent a larm ol __t for three
years for cash rent, taking possession
Nov. 1.
1. Would A have a right to sow wheat
the last fall before his time is out?
2. Could A come back and harvest it
without paying any extra rent?
New Carlisle. W. E.
1. Yes.
2. No— he would lose his crop.'
A owns land in Ripley county and B
has a judgment against It. A lives ln Jefferson county, B lives In Ripley county
the land is in Ripley countv. A and B
meet at the county seat of It'pley county
and tbey compromise. A gives B 15 days
to get the money. A takes $2 to bind the
contract. In 15 days B tells A he has got
the money. A tells B he will not go to
Ripley connty after it, and B takes the
money there and leaves it with bis attorney. B was to pay all necessary expenses.
B makes a deed and sends it to A but A
didn't go after his money. B makes another deed and Bends it to A and sent a
notary publio to take an acknowledgement of it. A claims interest on $! 50 from
the time they made the compromise until
now and still holds the deed, but acknowledged the deed and still holds the
$2 that he took on the compromise. What
must B do to get his money,
*1.   Must B sell the real estate?
2'   Orreplevy the deed out of A's hands?
3    Or sue him for damages?
4. What is the best way to get his
money ?
5. Is a j astice of the peace allowed to
go out of nis county to fill out vouchers for
soldiers?
6. Is a justice of the peace allowed to
charge anything on collecting money
where he don't Issue on the notes ?
Crossplains, Ripley Co. J. A. B.
1. Is not obliged to.
2. B cannot replevy the deed.
3. No.
4. Issue an execution; levy on the land
and sell it.
5. No.
G.   Yes he may charge a collection  fee.
In making hay, farmers are apt to become too muoh hurried with drawing in,
so that they do not give the hay time
enough to enre and sweat; hence it becomes mowburnt, musty and discolored.
It has been my observation that the best
way to harvest hay is to cut early, so as to
secure a good green color. Lst the hay lie
and have plenty time to dry; use the tedder, and then rake and cock it. Loading
from the windrow is a bad practice. The
hay may appear dry after the hot rays of
the sun have poured down upon lt for five
or six hours but is so only on the outside.
It should be cocked up and have time
to sweat before it is put in larger
masses. The makets demand hay of good
color, and it pays well to use extra efforts
to seoure such. Hay that is cut early will
bring two dollars per ton more than that
cut later and allowed become to yellowish
—American Agriculturist.