The Bulletin. 9 



On account of our dry falls, the wheat should be put in rather 

 deeply, and the drill rows left open or undragged, in order to prevent 

 winter killing by the heaving of the soil and be a protection from 

 cold winds. One bushel is a fair seeding, though some use as much 

 as one and one-half bushels with good results. The seed should be 

 put in sufficiently early to allow the plants to attain sufficient size 

 and hold on the soil before cold weather comes, to reduce as far as 

 possible the bad effects of freezing and soil heaving. The best time 

 will vary in different sections and in different seasons. Where the 

 Hessian fly is troublesome it is likely best to delay seeding until 

 after a good frost, but where it is not troublesome seeding may be 

 made prior to this time to good advantage. 



In the great wheat region of the Northwest the crop is some- 

 times harrowed with a light harrow or weeder in the spring for the 

 conservation of moisture, but in the East the cultivation is generally 

 all given before the crop is put on the land. This makes it all the 

 more important to thoroughly prepare the land before the crop is 

 put in. We have used a light smoothing harrow and weeder in the 

 spring to good advantage and we believe it is good practice to employ 

 these implements, especially when the season is dry. 



The above principles regarding . preparation apply to oats and 

 other small grain, as well as to wheat. Oats can be grown success- 

 fully on a greater variety of soils than wheat, and, where possible, 

 fall seeding should be followed, using some of the hardy winter 

 varieties, as the largest yields of grain are obtained from fall sowing 

 when they stand the winter. Much can be done in carrying oats 

 through the winter in good condition by thorough preparation of the 

 land and sufficiently early seeding to allow the plants to reach a 

 good root development before winter frosts set in. 



FERTILIZATION. 



The best fertilization of wheat and other small grain will depend 

 on the character of soil, its condition, the crops which have preceded 

 and the fertilization which has been given them. Wheat can be 

 grown to best advantage and most profitably in rotation with other 

 crops where one or more of the legumes or nitrogen-gathering plants 

 have occupied prominent places, which has enabled them to gather 

 from the air and store in the soil a large amount, at least, of the 

 nitrogen so necessary for the development of small grain. In the 

 Mountain district and on the red clay and valley lands of the Pied- 

 mont the following rotations are well suited: 



First year: Wheat with red clover sown in the spring on the fall- 

 sown wheat. 



Second year: Red clover, with the second crop turned under after 

 maturity of seed for soil improvement and for storing seed in the 

 soil. 



