THE WHEAT CULTURIST. 265 



to the top and less to the root, than is desirable, and in 

 this case will not come through the winter as well as 

 that'sown later, when the cool weather is favorable to 

 root growth and healthy development of leaf. We do 

 not advise late sowing on poorly prepared ground, and 

 that which is too much impoverished. Sow early on 

 such soil, if you must sow it in. poor condition. But it 

 is preferable to defer the seeding a week or two, and, in 

 the mean time, till and manure the land. A top-dress- 

 ing of manure or straw, after the sowing, is worth more 

 for winter protection than a large development of the 

 plant leaf; and Western farmers that are in the habit 

 of burning large quantities of straw might find better 

 use for it in shielding their wheat fields. 



" This year the Hessian fly has injured the wheat crop 

 to a greater extent than usual. Early sowing induces 

 their attack. Yery early sowing, followed by a warm 

 autumn, sometimes causes the seed stalk to start before 

 winter stops the growth of the plant, and thus a portion 

 of its strength is wasted. We do not advocate extremes 

 either way in sowing wheat, but first, a thorough prep- 

 aration of the soil, then the choosing, if possible, of 

 that medium period which comes after the heat and 

 drought of an early autumn, and gives time for a 

 moderate and healthy growth before winter." 



Mr. David Wood, Venice, Cayuga County, New York, 

 who is an excellent practical farmer, communicated to 

 me the following suggestions in relation to wheat cul- 

 ture : The best time to sow winter wheat with us is, 

 from the first of September to the tenth. If sowed be- 

 fore that period the plants grow too large before winter. 

 Wheat that has attained a large growth in autumn, is 

 more apt to winter-kill than if the stems and leaves 



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