1 66 



AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



There are a great many varieties of wheat : some are 

 bearded, others are smooth; some are winter and others 

 are spring varieties. The smooth-headed varieties are 

 most agreeable to handle during harvest and at threshing 

 time. Some of the bearded varieties, however, do so well 

 in some soils and climates that it is desirable to continue 

 growing them, though they are less agreeable to handle. 



FIG. 156. SELECTING SEED 



No matter what variety you are accustomed to raise, it 

 may be improved by careful seed selection. 



The seed drill is the best implement for planting wheat. 

 It distributes the grains evenly over the whole field and 

 leaves the mellow soil in a condition to catch what snow 

 may fall and secure what protection it affords. 



In many parts of the country, because so little live stock 

 is raised, there is often too little manure to apply to the 

 wheat land. Where this is the case, commercial fertilizers 



