;6 THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



fertilized.* Farm manure may be applied to the land after the 

 wheat is sown, if well rotted, preferably with a manure spreader, 

 if the condition of the land is such as not to be cut up too much 

 with the spreader. Experiments have shown that a ton of stall 

 manure will produce a larger return of wheat than a ton of 

 yard manure.^ 



Farm manure does not produce as large returns for the fer- 

 tilizing constituents contained as commercial fertilizers when 

 applied to wheat; nevertheless its lower cost often makes its 

 use profitable. Where there is a limited quantity of farm 

 manure or where both farm manure and commercial fertilizers 

 are used, the best practice usually is to apply the farm manure 

 to land for maize and apply the commercial fertilizers, if deemed 

 desirable, to the land for wheat. 



125. Mulching. — Mulching wheat with straw or other mate- 

 rial for the purpose of winter protection has not been generally 

 practiced. The Ohio Station^ has tested the value of mulching 

 for a series of years, and has found no practical benefit from 

 the use of a mulch. In severe seasons the benefit has been 

 very slight, while in mild seasons the mulch has usually been 

 harmful. A heavy mulch was more harmful than a light one. 

 The Tennessee Station* obtained about five per cent less 

 yield from a lightly mulched plat than from one which was not 

 mulched. 



In exposed situations and localities where there is little snow 

 upon the ground, a light mulch may be beneficial to the wheat 

 But where there is considerable snow and the temperature more 

 uniform the mulch is pretty certain to do more injury than good. 

 Mulching, however, must not be confused with a top dressmg 

 of stable manure for the purpose of adding fertility to the soil. 



1 Can. Expt. Farms Rpt. 1903, p. 24. 



2 Ohio Bui. no (1899), p. 52. 

 8 Ohio Bui. 82. 



4 Tenn. Vol. Ill, Bui 2. 



