The Bulletin. 7 



wheat follows wheat or other small strain where weeds and grass have 

 grown to a greater or less height during the interval between the har- 

 vest of tlie previous crop and seeding time. Where this growth is 

 considerable it is the best practice to cut it a number of times with 

 a sharp disk harrow, then plow it under shallow and disk once more 

 with the disk set at a slight angle. Where the growth of weeds and 

 grass is not very large, they may be turned under and disked once or 

 twice after plowing, but in both cases the plowing should be done at 

 least a month before seeding time, so as to allow the ground to settle. 

 Disk and smoothing harrows should be used liberally in cutting up 

 the soil to aid it in settling and becoming firm. A heavy roller may 

 be run over the freshly plowed land soon after breaking to break the 

 clods and lumps and compact the soil. It is well to follow the roller 

 with a smoothing harrow, especially if seeding time is near at hand, 

 so as to form a mulch to prevent the evaporation of water. 



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 sometimes 

 harrowed with a light harrow or weeder in the spring for the conserva- 

 tion 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 im- 

 portant to thoroughly prepare the land before the crop is put in. Some 

 have used a light smoothing harrow and weeder in the spring to good 

 advantage and we believe it is good practice to employ these imple- 

 ments, especially when the season is dry. 



FERTILIZATION 



The best fertilization of wheat and other small grain will depend 

 on the character of the soil, its condition, the crops which have pre- 

 ceded 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. These gather from the air and store 

 in the soil a large amount of the nitrogen so necessary for the develop- 

 ment of small grain. In the mountain district and on the red clay 

 and valley lands of the Piedmont the following rotations are well 

 suited : 



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

 sown wheat. 



