1 66 



THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



enough to produce a considerable growth before winter sets in, 

 to avoid winter killing. But where the Hessian fly is prevalent, 

 it is necessary to seed late enough to avoid damage from this 

 source. In subhumid regions, the frequent lack of seasonal 

 rains gives the farmer less choice in the time of seeding. The 

 usual plan in these regions is to seed early if rains occur. Other- 

 wise, the grain is sown late, sometimes so late that it does not 

 come up before winter sets in. Early seeding as a safeguard 

 against winter killing appears to be less essential there than in 



humid regions. A heavy 

 growth in the fall uses 

 the reserve moisture in 

 the soil and may result 

 in a short crop the fol- 

 lowing season. 



206. How much seed 

 to sow to the acre. From 

 3 to 6 pecks of seed are 

 usually sown to an acre. 

 Winter wheat is not 

 usually sown as thickly 

 as spring wheat. The 

 rate is less on arid lands 

 than on humid, and on 

 poor soils than on rich 

 soils. One bushel of Turkey wheat contains from 800,000 to 

 1,000,000 kernels. If all are viable, i bushel of wheat per 

 acre will produce about 20 plants to each square foot. 



207. The depth to sow. Wheat is usually sown from one to 

 three inches deep, according to the surface conditions of the soil. 

 As a rule, planting from one to two inches deep gives the best 

 results if the soil is sufficiently moist at that depth to insure 

 germination. The depth of seeding does not affect the depth to 

 which the roots of wheat penetrate, as is sometimes thought. 

 The aim, therefore, should be to seed at that depth which will 

 result in the quickest germination and most rapid growth. 



Underwood & Underwood 



FIG. 78. Harvesting wheat in Palestine 



