WHEAT 59 



CHAPTER V 



WHEAT SEEDING AND CULTIVATION 



Spring wheat should be sown as early in the 

 spring as the soil can be put into favorable seed 

 bed condition. It is preferable to risk damage by 

 spring frosts in order to start the wheat early and 

 thus hasten its maturing, in order that the crop 

 may escape rust and unfavorable weather con- 

 ditions which are likely to damage the grain 

 near harvest time. 



It is difficult to name any best date for sowing 

 fall wheat, because this will vary greatly for 

 different sections of the country, and in different 

 seasons even in the same locality. In the more 

 northern areas of the winter wheat belt early 

 seeding is usually desirable in order that the wheat 

 may make a good start and a good cover in the 

 fall, to afford winter protection. In the warmer 

 climates rather late seeding is often preferred 

 because a too rank growth from early seeding is 

 more apt to smother during the winter. Also the 

 early seedings are liable to attack by the Hessian 

 fly which appears early in the fall and lays its 

 eggs on the early sown wheat. When it is neces- 

 sary to sow rather late, special care should be 

 taken to have the seed bed in ideal condition to 

 start the wheat quickly, since young, weak plants 

 are more likely to winter kill, and the lack of 

 cover exposes the crop to damage by wind and 

 drifting soil. 



