72 THE BOOK OF WHEAT 



this machinery is combined into great gangs drawn by a power- 

 ful traction engine, and such outfits may cover from 35 to 100 

 acres per day. 



Cultivation Subsequent to Sowing. As a rule, in most coun- 

 tries wheat receives no cultivation between sowing and har- 

 vesting. Occasionally, however, it is harrowed or rolled after 

 the seed has germinated, or after it has made some growth and 

 become firmly rooted. This is done to kill weeds or retard 

 evaporation. Ordinarily, such cultivation has not been found 

 of advantage in modern wheat growing. In Japan wheat is 

 planted in rows and hoed, but vegetables are usually raised at 

 the same time between the rows. In the time of Fitzherbert, 

 a kind of wooden shears or hook was used in pulling the weeds 

 out of wheat. In the eighteenth century when wheat was 

 drilled in England, it was hoed with a mattock or hoe. 



Pasturing winter wheat is practiced to a certain extent. 

 This should never be continued late in the spring, or when the 

 soil is not in suitable condition, for yield and quality of wheat 

 will then be lowered. If judiciously practiced, there may be no 

 reduction in yield. 1 

 1 Okla. Bui. 65, p. 6. 



