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VOL. XX. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, AUG. 22,1885. NO. 34 RATES AND METHODS WHEAT. Results Obtained at the College. OF SOWING Agricultural Bdltors Indiana Farmer: It Is pretty well known that the quantity of seed per acre will depend on several conditions, among which may be named the character of the soil, preparation of the seed bod, time of sowing, and kind of wheat. It may not be so well known that the season also exercises a strong influence* The experiments at the college with THICK AND THIN SEEDING show clearly that thick seeding gives the best results when the winter is very severe. In the fall of 1883 a series of plats, extending entirely across the wheat field, were drilled in at various rates as given below, and in 1884 the experiment waa repeated. Fultz wheat was sown on these plats both years. Tbe results were as follows: SEED, ONE TO KIOHT PECKS TO THE ACRE. No. Bate. Yield pet* acre bushels. 18M. 1S85. . 7.7 21.9 16.4 33.5 25.3 35.5 29.1 31.8 32.1 343 33.4 * . 32.1 . 31.8 1 a 1 peck 2 2 pecks 3 3 pecks 4 4 pecks 6 Specks 6 6 pecks 7 • 7 pecks ; 8 8 peeks * Kates not sown in 1SS1. In 1883 4—a favorable year—there was little increase from sowing more than three pecks to the acre. The entire field that year averaged 25.5 bushels, with a seeding of five pecks to the acre. In 1884-5 the thinly seeded plats had a slight advantage in location and richness of soil. Notwithstanding this fact the yield rapidly increases, with the increase of seed up to five pecks; and the plat receiving eight pecks gives the highest yield. The rest of the field, in which these plats were located, was sown at one bnshel per acre with an average yield of 18 6 bushels. The preparation of the seed bed was very thorough both years, and the soil haa rather more than average fertility. The thick seeding passed the severe winter and spring with least damage. Conld we know beforehand that the next winter would be as severe as the last we should sow thickly— say six pecks to the acre. In the absence of thia foreknowledge, we shall sow again only one bushel per acre. On poorer soil and with less thorough preparation than we give, we wonld recommend five or six pecks of seed to tbe acre. BROADCAST AND DRtLt. SOWINO. A plat extending across the wheat field was seeded with a broadcast seeder attached to the wagon. On either side was a plat ot the samo size seeded with the drill. The aim was to sow the three plats at the one bushel rate, but the broadcast seeder could not be accurately gauged and sowed not less than five pecks to the acre. The yields per acre wore: '*., - Bushels. . -tl drilled. 17.0 Plat 2 broadcast..-. 17.3 Plat 3 drilled. _ _ _ __20 9 Average of the two drilled plats is.95 tiraln peracre by anlng drill „...l 65 If the broadcast seeder had deposited only one bushel per acre, as did the drill I think the difference wonld have been more strongly in favor of the drill. .. The drill secures greater uniformity in rate of sowing and depth of covering. The broadcast seeder will do more rapid work, but is better adapted to the broad farming of the West than to this Stato. CULTIVATION OP WHEAT. A small piece of ground was seeded, last fall in drills two feet apart. One-half of the area was sown at the rate of one- half bushel to the acre, and the other half at two-tblrds bushels per acre. During the growing season this year both plats were thoroughly harrowed three times, between the drill rows. The ground was rich and well prepared before sowing. The wheat made a strong growth in the fall and passed the winter and spring with very slight damage. There was of course a rank growth this season, which caused the wheat (Velvet Chaff) to lodge some before fully ripe. The grain was well filled however, bat the harvesting waa rather difficult, and the wheat was not quite all gathered. The yields per acre were: Bushels. Plat 1, sown K bnshel per acre 32.05 Plat 2, sown *s bushel per acre 32.18 The experiment will be repeated noxt year on a part of the field crop, and with a wheat possessing stiff straw. We draw no conclusions from tl-jjp experiment for the present; but wonld suggest that other farmers try the experiment of harrowing a portion of their wheat and report the results to the Indiana Farmer. W. C. Latta, Professor of Agriculture, Purdue University, Lafayette. Written tor tha Indiana Farmer. Mistakes of Wheat Growers.- BY JOHN M. STAni.. -No.4. Another mistake of wheat growers is sowing shrunken grain for seed. Perhaps the wheat has been injured by the fly; or it has lodged before the grains were filled out; spmething has happened to make the grain shrunken and this wheat is separated from the other, that H may be used for seed. If a man has no shrunken wheat of his own he goes to a neighbor who has, and thinks tbat by so doing he has practiced a great piece of economy; for in a bushel of shrunken wheat there will be more grains than in a bnshel of plump wheat, while the latter will bring the more at the mills. Hence the sowing of SHRUNKEN ORAIN POR SEED. But it is not economical to sow snch seed. In the formation of all soeds, nature's only concern was to provide for the perpetuation of the plant. Some seeds may be valuable as food for animals, but this Is extra-nature. Now the seed is composed of a germ (a miniature plant) and prepared plant food stored around this little plant or in its leaves. Thia plant food is so prepared that the miniature plant cannot use it until the seed is so placed—in moist, warm earth for example —that fermentation ensues, when tho food is made availablo and the little plant begins to grow. It is this prepared food which makes seeds valuable as food for animals, for this is vegetable, not mineral, in its nature; bnt as nature had in view only the growth of the little plant, we may be sure that this prepared food, vegetable in its nature, is essential to the growth of those plants about which it is stored in the seed. And when we learn about the conditions of plant growth we see that the young plant could nevor reach the surface without this store. The food it might gather from the soil would be mineral; in order for it to grow, that is, make this food a part of itself, the food must be changed to vegetable. But this change can be made only in the leaves of the plant, exposed to the light. Hence the plant can make no growth from the food it might gather from the soil until its foliage* expands above ground. Until that time it must have food already vegetable; and nature has wisely provided this food by putting it around or in the plant In the seed. If thero ia much of this food stored in a grain of wheat, the grain is plump; if there is little of it, the grain Is'shrunken. Now if the seed were placed near the surface of the ground, the small supply of food in the' shrunken grain would be sufficient for the growth of the plant till it reached the open air; but if wo put the seed so near the surface there may be too much air and not enough moisture and heat, and the seed will fall to germinate, or if it does the little plant will wither and die. Or the seed might be placed yet a vory little deeper and if all the conditions were favorable the plant would get through. But whenever shrunken wheat is used for seed all the conditions must be very favorable if the plant reaches above the surface; and till it has done so It will bo so weakened that all the conditions must continue favorable, if it continues to grow, while it will always be somewhat stunted. On the other hand, if plump seed Is sown the chances for the plant reaching the surface are greator, and the plant itself will be more vigorous. Under conditions so unfavorable that a plant which had to depend upon the small store found in a shrunken seed would sucenmb, the plant which had the store of a plump seed to draw from would get through; or if the conditions were so favorable that tho store in a plump seed were moro than was actually needed to bring the plant above ground, this excess would not be wasted. Being the most readily available of all plant food, it would be in the nature of a concentrated manure and would add so much to the vigor and thrift of the plant at the very period when this would be the most gain, that it would bo a very profitable expenditure. I think toy readers now understand why it is not good policy to sow shrunken grain for seed. And right here I wish to say that we sow too much seed (of which hereafter) and pay too little attention to what that seed is like. We use too great a quantity and do not put enough good quality into it. And this brings me to another mistake of wheat raisers—the use ef IMPURE, UNCLEAN SEED. That the seed should be pure i. e. of only one variety, can be demonstrated in one sentence. There can be only one best variety; yon should sow only the best; hence you should sow only one variety. More than this, the miller will pay more for a load of wheat, if composed of but one variety, though that variety Is slightly inferior, than he will for a load made up of a mixture of several good varieties. It may bo well enough to test on' a small scale new varieties; but always the great bulk of that sown shonld be of the one variety which yon have found to do beat year after year. It is a yet more grievous, mistake to .how unclean seod. Kye, chess, etc., are seeds of greater vitality than wheat. Hence" they are more certain to germinate and a much greater proportion of the plants will reach maturity. As a result, they gain on the wheat; and when only the wind is sown, the whirlwind must be- reaped. Wheat does not turn to chess; you need not fear that. But when you bow one per cent of chess to 99 of wheat, you will have ton per cent of chess to harvest. Perhaps more; for chess will He dormant in the soil for several years. But If you have no chess in the soil or in the seed, you will have nono in the harvest, unless a bird chances to carry a seed to your field. It Is not necessary for me to argue that you should sow only clean seed; you know that well enough; and I can assure you that if you sow only wheat you will reap only wheat; while if you sow chess or rye you will reap a greater per cent ot these obnoxious seeds. Quincy, III. The Fairs. Monroe county has determined to try a fair this year. It will bo held at Bloomington, Oct. 6 to 9. For particulars address Walter Bradf ute, Sec'y. The Illinois State fair will be held at Chicago, September 14-19. The business men of Chicago and the officers of,the_rail- .,_ roads have determined to make this fair . the largest and most attractive on tho continent to admirers of fine stock, improved machinery, the best specimens of farm products, the beauties of art, ornamental and useful work in the textile department as well as the tempting culinary luxuries and necessities of life. The Delaware county fair at Muncie had fine weather all the week and the attendance was very large. The show In every department w*\s good. The live stock department never was so well represented, which was due to the increased interest brought about through the organization of a stock breeders' association in the county several months ago. Best of all the fair was a financial success, and the association will pay oil'tho debt that has hung over it for some time. The 25th great St. Louis fair opens Monday, October 5th, and continues for six days. The revision of the premium list, which has just been completed, contains 24 departments and $73,000 is o(Tared in premiums. The management are erecting 700 new horse stables, 500 cattle stalls, 800 sheep and swine pens, a poultry house for 3,000 fowls and 19 exhibition halls in addition to those already upon the ground. Some over $400,000 have just been expended on improvements and 65 acres added to the ground. A rate of one fare for the round trip has been made by all railroads running within 500 miles of St. Louis. .Any of our subscribers desiring a copy of the premium list will receive one free by addressing Festus J. Wade, Sec'y., 718 Chestnut street, St. Louis. . » . It is the opinion of the New York press that the profits made by tradesmen and others off the crowd of strangers in attendance at the Grant funeral more than counterbalance the oxpenses incident to the occasion.
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1885, v. 20, no. 34 (Aug. 22) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA2034 |
Date of Original | 1885 |
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 | 2011-02-03 |
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. XX. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, AUG. 22,1885. NO. 34 RATES AND METHODS WHEAT. Results Obtained at the College. OF SOWING Agricultural Bdltors Indiana Farmer: It Is pretty well known that the quantity of seed per acre will depend on several conditions, among which may be named the character of the soil, preparation of the seed bod, time of sowing, and kind of wheat. It may not be so well known that the season also exercises a strong influence* The experiments at the college with THICK AND THIN SEEDING show clearly that thick seeding gives the best results when the winter is very severe. In the fall of 1883 a series of plats, extending entirely across the wheat field, were drilled in at various rates as given below, and in 1884 the experiment waa repeated. Fultz wheat was sown on these plats both years. Tbe results were as follows: SEED, ONE TO KIOHT PECKS TO THE ACRE. No. Bate. Yield pet* acre bushels. 18M. 1S85. . 7.7 21.9 16.4 33.5 25.3 35.5 29.1 31.8 32.1 343 33.4 * . 32.1 . 31.8 1 a 1 peck 2 2 pecks 3 3 pecks 4 4 pecks 6 Specks 6 6 pecks 7 • 7 pecks ; 8 8 peeks * Kates not sown in 1SS1. In 1883 4—a favorable year—there was little increase from sowing more than three pecks to the acre. The entire field that year averaged 25.5 bushels, with a seeding of five pecks to the acre. In 1884-5 the thinly seeded plats had a slight advantage in location and richness of soil. Notwithstanding this fact the yield rapidly increases, with the increase of seed up to five pecks; and the plat receiving eight pecks gives the highest yield. The rest of the field, in which these plats were located, was sown at one bnshel per acre with an average yield of 18 6 bushels. The preparation of the seed bed was very thorough both years, and the soil haa rather more than average fertility. The thick seeding passed the severe winter and spring with least damage. Conld we know beforehand that the next winter would be as severe as the last we should sow thickly— say six pecks to the acre. In the absence of thia foreknowledge, we shall sow again only one bushel per acre. On poorer soil and with less thorough preparation than we give, we wonld recommend five or six pecks of seed to tbe acre. BROADCAST AND DRtLt. SOWINO. A plat extending across the wheat field was seeded with a broadcast seeder attached to the wagon. On either side was a plat ot the samo size seeded with the drill. The aim was to sow the three plats at the one bushel rate, but the broadcast seeder could not be accurately gauged and sowed not less than five pecks to the acre. The yields per acre wore: '*., - Bushels. . -tl drilled. 17.0 Plat 2 broadcast..-. 17.3 Plat 3 drilled. _ _ _ __20 9 Average of the two drilled plats is.95 tiraln peracre by anlng drill „...l 65 If the broadcast seeder had deposited only one bushel per acre, as did the drill I think the difference wonld have been more strongly in favor of the drill. .. The drill secures greater uniformity in rate of sowing and depth of covering. The broadcast seeder will do more rapid work, but is better adapted to the broad farming of the West than to this Stato. CULTIVATION OP WHEAT. A small piece of ground was seeded, last fall in drills two feet apart. One-half of the area was sown at the rate of one- half bushel to the acre, and the other half at two-tblrds bushels per acre. During the growing season this year both plats were thoroughly harrowed three times, between the drill rows. The ground was rich and well prepared before sowing. The wheat made a strong growth in the fall and passed the winter and spring with very slight damage. There was of course a rank growth this season, which caused the wheat (Velvet Chaff) to lodge some before fully ripe. The grain was well filled however, bat the harvesting waa rather difficult, and the wheat was not quite all gathered. The yields per acre were: Bushels. Plat 1, sown K bnshel per acre 32.05 Plat 2, sown *s bushel per acre 32.18 The experiment will be repeated noxt year on a part of the field crop, and with a wheat possessing stiff straw. We draw no conclusions from tl-jjp experiment for the present; but wonld suggest that other farmers try the experiment of harrowing a portion of their wheat and report the results to the Indiana Farmer. W. C. Latta, Professor of Agriculture, Purdue University, Lafayette. Written tor tha Indiana Farmer. Mistakes of Wheat Growers.- BY JOHN M. STAni.. -No.4. Another mistake of wheat growers is sowing shrunken grain for seed. Perhaps the wheat has been injured by the fly; or it has lodged before the grains were filled out; spmething has happened to make the grain shrunken and this wheat is separated from the other, that H may be used for seed. If a man has no shrunken wheat of his own he goes to a neighbor who has, and thinks tbat by so doing he has practiced a great piece of economy; for in a bushel of shrunken wheat there will be more grains than in a bnshel of plump wheat, while the latter will bring the more at the mills. Hence the sowing of SHRUNKEN ORAIN POR SEED. But it is not economical to sow snch seed. In the formation of all soeds, nature's only concern was to provide for the perpetuation of the plant. Some seeds may be valuable as food for animals, but this Is extra-nature. Now the seed is composed of a germ (a miniature plant) and prepared plant food stored around this little plant or in its leaves. Thia plant food is so prepared that the miniature plant cannot use it until the seed is so placed—in moist, warm earth for example —that fermentation ensues, when tho food is made availablo and the little plant begins to grow. It is this prepared food which makes seeds valuable as food for animals, for this is vegetable, not mineral, in its nature; bnt as nature had in view only the growth of the little plant, we may be sure that this prepared food, vegetable in its nature, is essential to the growth of those plants about which it is stored in the seed. And when we learn about the conditions of plant growth we see that the young plant could nevor reach the surface without this store. The food it might gather from the soil would be mineral; in order for it to grow, that is, make this food a part of itself, the food must be changed to vegetable. But this change can be made only in the leaves of the plant, exposed to the light. Hence the plant can make no growth from the food it might gather from the soil until its foliage* expands above ground. Until that time it must have food already vegetable; and nature has wisely provided this food by putting it around or in the plant In the seed. If thero ia much of this food stored in a grain of wheat, the grain is plump; if there is little of it, the grain Is'shrunken. Now if the seed were placed near the surface of the ground, the small supply of food in the' shrunken grain would be sufficient for the growth of the plant till it reached the open air; but if wo put the seed so near the surface there may be too much air and not enough moisture and heat, and the seed will fall to germinate, or if it does the little plant will wither and die. Or the seed might be placed yet a vory little deeper and if all the conditions were favorable the plant would get through. But whenever shrunken wheat is used for seed all the conditions must be very favorable if the plant reaches above the surface; and till it has done so It will bo so weakened that all the conditions must continue favorable, if it continues to grow, while it will always be somewhat stunted. On the other hand, if plump seed Is sown the chances for the plant reaching the surface are greator, and the plant itself will be more vigorous. Under conditions so unfavorable that a plant which had to depend upon the small store found in a shrunken seed would sucenmb, the plant which had the store of a plump seed to draw from would get through; or if the conditions were so favorable that tho store in a plump seed were moro than was actually needed to bring the plant above ground, this excess would not be wasted. Being the most readily available of all plant food, it would be in the nature of a concentrated manure and would add so much to the vigor and thrift of the plant at the very period when this would be the most gain, that it would bo a very profitable expenditure. I think toy readers now understand why it is not good policy to sow shrunken grain for seed. And right here I wish to say that we sow too much seed (of which hereafter) and pay too little attention to what that seed is like. We use too great a quantity and do not put enough good quality into it. And this brings me to another mistake of wheat raisers—the use ef IMPURE, UNCLEAN SEED. That the seed should be pure i. e. of only one variety, can be demonstrated in one sentence. There can be only one best variety; yon should sow only the best; hence you should sow only one variety. More than this, the miller will pay more for a load of wheat, if composed of but one variety, though that variety Is slightly inferior, than he will for a load made up of a mixture of several good varieties. It may bo well enough to test on' a small scale new varieties; but always the great bulk of that sown shonld be of the one variety which yon have found to do beat year after year. It is a yet more grievous, mistake to .how unclean seod. Kye, chess, etc., are seeds of greater vitality than wheat. Hence" they are more certain to germinate and a much greater proportion of the plants will reach maturity. As a result, they gain on the wheat; and when only the wind is sown, the whirlwind must be- reaped. Wheat does not turn to chess; you need not fear that. But when you bow one per cent of chess to 99 of wheat, you will have ton per cent of chess to harvest. Perhaps more; for chess will He dormant in the soil for several years. But If you have no chess in the soil or in the seed, you will have nono in the harvest, unless a bird chances to carry a seed to your field. It Is not necessary for me to argue that you should sow only clean seed; you know that well enough; and I can assure you that if you sow only wheat you will reap only wheat; while if you sow chess or rye you will reap a greater per cent ot these obnoxious seeds. Quincy, III. The Fairs. Monroe county has determined to try a fair this year. It will bo held at Bloomington, Oct. 6 to 9. For particulars address Walter Bradf ute, Sec'y. The Illinois State fair will be held at Chicago, September 14-19. The business men of Chicago and the officers of,the_rail- .,_ roads have determined to make this fair . the largest and most attractive on tho continent to admirers of fine stock, improved machinery, the best specimens of farm products, the beauties of art, ornamental and useful work in the textile department as well as the tempting culinary luxuries and necessities of life. The Delaware county fair at Muncie had fine weather all the week and the attendance was very large. The show In every department w*\s good. The live stock department never was so well represented, which was due to the increased interest brought about through the organization of a stock breeders' association in the county several months ago. Best of all the fair was a financial success, and the association will pay oil'tho debt that has hung over it for some time. The 25th great St. Louis fair opens Monday, October 5th, and continues for six days. The revision of the premium list, which has just been completed, contains 24 departments and $73,000 is o(Tared in premiums. The management are erecting 700 new horse stables, 500 cattle stalls, 800 sheep and swine pens, a poultry house for 3,000 fowls and 19 exhibition halls in addition to those already upon the ground. Some over $400,000 have just been expended on improvements and 65 acres added to the ground. A rate of one fare for the round trip has been made by all railroads running within 500 miles of St. Louis. .Any of our subscribers desiring a copy of the premium list will receive one free by addressing Festus J. Wade, Sec'y., 718 Chestnut street, St. Louis. . » . It is the opinion of the New York press that the profits made by tradesmen and others off the crowd of strangers in attendance at the Grant funeral more than counterbalance the oxpenses incident to the occasion. |
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