FIELD, ORCHARD, AND GARDEN CROPS 



147 



wheat supply of the world. Unfertilized, it averages twenty-four 

 bushels to the acre. 



The average production of the United States is only thirteen 

 bushels, though forty is not an 'uncommon yield. The yield to the 

 acre of the rocky New England farms is twice as large as the 



SEEDING WHEAT AFTER CORN 



fertile wheat lands of the West, because the eastern farmers pre- 

 pare and fertilize the seed bed better. 



Cultivation. Thorough preparation of the soil is important for 

 two reasons: it is a sowed crop, and all its cultivation must be 

 given before it is seeded; it is a weak-feeding plant which has 

 little power to get food for itself; it needs to have the soil fertile 

 and mellow, in condition to furnish it food. 



Wheat requires a firm seed bed to give root hold and to bring 

 up water and food by capillarity. It needs, also, a fine, mellow 



