LECTUKES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 225 



undoubtedly good as a means of hastening spring work, and as a means of 

 breaking up heavy soils by the action of frost, provided all is not spoiled by too 

 early harrowing in the spring. Bat I have small faith in it as a worm medi- 

 cine. It may give the birds a chance at a few of them, but no able bodied 

 worm possessed of ordinary intelligence is going to lie on top of the ground all 

 ■winter freezing and warping, when he can be more comfortable by a little 

 digging. 



Oats of all crops is poorly planted. It is to be deplored, when all it asks is 

 a fair start. It is charged against oats that their roots grow in clusters, and 

 render the ground Inmpy. My little experience does not accord with the 

 charge. Oat ground is oftener dusty than lumpy, and even when hard and 

 lumpy, is due not so much to a bad habit of the oat as to having worked the 

 ground too wet the spring before. Oats will not endure standing water, but 

 are not injured by a brief period of low temperature, and even snow after they 

 are out of the ground. Of course the ground should be drained, then prepared 

 as early as possible, but never work it wet for the sake of sowing early. It 

 will take years to repair the damage done. Light rolling after sowing will 

 hasten the sprouting, then mother nature tends the crop. Properly planted, 

 no crop is so certain in this section as oats. 



WHEAT. 



It is supposed that the ground is already drained, and that it has received 

 no fertilizers since the crop of corn. If the soil is in a high state of cultiva- 

 tion it will raise a fair crop of wheat as it is, but as we intend to seed with it, 

 it will be best to apply well rotted manure or other fertilizer rich in the 

 nitrates. 



Clover of all crops is the best predecessor to wheat, and some advise seeding 

 clover with the oats, cutting a crop of hay the next summer, then turning 

 under the aftergrowth as a green manure for the wheat. I am inclined to 

 think this the cheapest and best fertilizer for wheat. If barn-yard manure is 

 used it should be well rotted, and used as a top dressing. When wheat follows 

 oats immediately the plan has been to plow as soon as possible after removing 

 the oats, allowing the wasted oats to sprout. This is well if it is not plowed 

 again. Let all after culture be at the surface. I believe it is a safe rule never 

 to plow wheat ground but once, even on summer fallow. Wheat does not, 

 like corn, enjoy a deep, loose soil, but rather one that is compact ; not baked, 

 but firm. It is seldom too well worked at the surface, but may be too deeply 

 worked. I question if a cultivator, so called, is useful upon wheat ground. 



To recapitulate, I think universal experience bears me out in saying that 

 ground for wheat should be ploughed as long as possible before sowing, and 

 only once ; that the surface should be kept clean and loose, and nothing 

 more. The old time summer fallow is fast disappearing under our more 

 intensive system. A rotation is found to be more profitable than absolute rest. 

 I omit the other cereals, because they are not in general cultivation, and I 

 know nothing personally of their culture. 



If I had aimed in this paper to have written a popular and high-sounding 

 essay, I should have failed with this. I did not consider it advisable to do so, 

 and did not attempt it. If I have mentioned the essential points in preparing 

 the soil for the growth of the grains, with the proper reasons, and this in such 

 a manner as will call out a lively discussion, then I have gained my object. 

 After all, success is easier upon paper than in the field. A writer always 

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