THE CULTIVATION OF FARM CROPS. 533 



and without a considerable number of straws the crop may break down 

 before reaping time. 



Grain is sown by drill and by broadcasting with hand or "machine. 

 Two bushels per acre broadcast is not in its result a thicker seeding than 

 1J bushels if drilled. Broadcasting is the cheapest and most expeditious 

 method of sowing ; but the sowing of grain in rows by the drill has three 

 main advantages over broadcasting, viz., the saving of seed, the ability to 

 hoe the spaces between the rows in spring if necessary, and the deposit of 

 the seed at equal and uniform depth in the soil. Eight to ten inches are 

 the common distances between row and row. When of less width the in- 

 tervals cannot be well hand or horse-hoed. Where there are no weeds to 

 keep down, and where a baked surface only requires stirring and break- 

 ing, that can be done expeditiously and economically by the common har- 

 row, and broadcasting may be perfectly satisfactory, Wheat stands, and 

 even improves, under a considerable amount of rough handling in spring ; 

 aud where the land is clean it is much the same whether it be sown broad- 

 cast or drilled. 



SPRING WHEAT requires a soil similar to that of winter grain, but it 



should be of a quick and kindly character, as it has a much shorter time 



to mature. The ground should be well pulverized and fertile. The best 



crops are raised on land that has been ploughed in the fall, after roots were 



manured, and sown without additional ploughing, taking care to harrow in 



thoroughly. When planted early the wheat rarely suffers from the fly, 



f attains a size and vigor beyond the reach of injury before it appears. 



In certain localities where the fly abounds and the wheat has not been 



early sown, it is found necessary to keep back the young plants till the 



ranee of the fly. 



Wheat of any class is ready for reaping as soon as the berry or grain 

 is hard enough to yield no milkey juice when squeezed. The later sta 

 of the ripening process do little else than thicken the l>rau coat of 

 the grain and diminish its yield of flour. This subject has been 

 thoroughly investigate. 1 l>y rigorous experiment, that both the quality 

 and tli.- quantity of the produce are improved by early harvesting. The 



y the, by the reaping machine, ,.r self-binder. T 

 t up in stonks or shocks, five sheaves on a side, with <>r without top 

 sheaves for further protection, until it is dry, and it is then hauled to the 

 barn ..r -tack. 



ils best adapted for barley are good turnip lands 

 ireous, In ,d friable and the crop generally follows turnips. 



