68 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



seeding is sometimes necessary in order to escape the Hes- 

 sian fly. 



Method of seeding.— There are two general methods of 

 seeding the small grains on prepared seed beds, namely, broad- 

 cast and drilling. The results of accurately conducted experi- 

 ments all show an advantage of tw^o and five-tenths to three and 

 five-tenths bushels per acre for the drill method. This advan- 

 tage is due to (1) more uniform stand as a result of better ger- 

 mination since all seed are covered to the proper depth and more 

 even distribution; (2) less winter killing because the crowns are 

 better protected. Drilling has the added advantage of giving 

 clover or grass when seeded with the grain a better chance for 

 development. 



Mineral fertilizers for wheat. — The fertilization of land for 

 wheat is becoming more and more important as the natural 

 fertility is reduced. "Wheat is a more delicate feeder than either 

 oats or corn and thus requires a supply of available plant food. 

 Generally phosphorus is the element most needed for wheat 

 and good returns are secured by applications of one hundred 

 and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds per acre of acid phos- 

 phate. Likewise potash and nitrogen are often beneficial, but 

 where good rotations are followed, including legumes, little 

 nitrogen is necessary for wheat. Where a complete fertilizer is 

 used, two hundred and fifty to four hundred pounds per acre 

 of a three-eight-five, four-ten-five, or some other fertilizer of 

 similar composition will give profitable returns. Any commer- 

 cial fertilizer for wheat is applied at or near the time of seeding 

 unless nitrate of soda is added. In this case it should be broad- 

 cast as a top dressing in the spring after growth has begun. 

 Manure had better be added to grass or the sod before plowing 

 for corn than as a fertilizer for wheat. 



Harvesting wheat. — Wheat should be cut when mature but 

 not long before as the grain reaches its maximum dry weight 

 when well ripened. The common method to-day is to harvest 

 with a grain binder, but the harvest may be done mth a self-rake 

 reaper or with a cradle and bound by hand. After the grain is 

 bound it is advisable to shock in loose, small shocks for drying. 

 It may then be stacked in the field or stored in the barn for 

 future threshing or may be threshed direct from the field if the 

 weather is very favorable. This last method, hoM^ever, will 

 usually result in considerable loss in the eastern United States. 



Market grades for wheat. — The farmer is often disappointed 

 when marketing his wheat to find that it grades quite low, which 



