132 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



and again late in autumn, and early in the following spring-. 

 In northern Europe, it has been found a preventive against 

 winter killing on strong clays, to sow the wheat in the bot- 

 tom of each furrow, six inches deep, and cover it with the 

 succeeding one. The wheat thus planted, comes up as soon 

 as on the fields sown broadcast and harrowed, grows more 

 vigorously, withstands the winters and produces large crops. 

 Plowing in wheat with a light furrow, is perhaps, under any 

 circumstances, better than harrowing, as the wheat is there- 

 by all buried, and at a more suitable depth than can be done 

 by the harrow. The roughness of the furrows when left 

 without harrowing, is advantageous in heavy or clay lands, 

 and only injurious in light or sandy. 



After Culture. Harrowing in the spring, adds to the 

 growth of the crop, by loosening the soil; and the loss of 

 the few plants thus destroyed, is much more than compensa- 

 ted by the rapid tillering and vigor of those which remain. 

 Sowing in drills and hoeing between them, is much prac- 

 ticed in Europe. The additional amount thus frequently 

 raised, would seem to justify the adoption of this mode of 

 cultivation in this country ; and it should at least be done, 

 so far as to give it a fair trial. On light soils, rolling the 

 wheat both in fall and spring, is highly advantageous. 

 When the growth is luxuriant, decided benefit has attended 

 feeding off the wheat On the field in the fall or spring, tak- 

 ing care to permit the animals to go on, only when the 

 ground is firm. 



Enemies of Wheat. These are numerous. It is subject 

 to the attack of the Hessian fly, if sown too early in the 

 fall, and again the ensuing spring, there being two annual 

 swarms of the fly, early in May and September. When 

 thus invaded, harrowing or rolling, by which the maggots 

 or flies are displaced or driven off, is the only remedy of 

 much avail. Occasionally, other flies, and sometimes wheat 

 worms commit great depredation. There is no effectual 

 remedy known against any of these marauders, beyond roll- 

 ing, brushing and harrowing. Dusting the grain with lime, 

 ashes and soot, have been frequently tried, as have also the 

 sprinkling them with urine, dilute acids and other liquids or 

 steeps. Fumigating them in the evening, when the smoke 

 creeps along through the standing grain, has been often tried, 

 but without decided success. For this last purpose, a smoul- 

 dering heap of damp brush, weeds or chips, is placed on the 

 windward side of the field ; and its efficacy may be increased 



