HOW TO OBTAIN A LARGE YIELD. 17 



ground just before sowing or planting the wheat, and 

 then harrow them into the surface at the rate of ten to 

 fifteen bushels of lime, or six to eight bushels of ashes or 

 salt to the acre. 



SIXTH SELECTION AND PREPARATION OF THE SEED. 



Proper selection and preparation of seed are all-essential 

 in getting highest results in wheat growing. Seed should 

 be perfectly ripe, gathered, thrashed and binned without 

 the least wetting or moulding, and without being cracked 

 or heated in the lightning thrashers ; it should be per- 

 fectly screened and cleaned in the fanning mill. Farm- 

 ers would, in the long run, be the gainers if they would 

 each year gather with the grain cradle and thrash by 

 hand with flail on a clean barn floor, sufficient wheat for 

 seed, selecting the best growth in their fields, and letting 

 it stand until perfectly ripe, taking that which seems to 

 be earliest in ripening. When ready to plant, soak the 

 seed six to ten hours in brine, and roll in plaster to dry 

 it for the drill. 



In regard to seeding with clover and grass, there are 

 several modes and varieties, and differences of opinion 

 among growers. Our own experience for several years 

 in different States, on various soils, as well as considera- 

 ble observation and reading, lead us to believe that Red- 

 top is better than Timothy to seed with Clover, princi- 

 pally because it comes to maturity nearer the same time 

 with the clover ; and we think early spring is the best 

 time to sow the clover, say on the last snows of the sea- 

 son, or during the first spring showers, or just before 

 them, so that they will cover the seed into the soil and 

 cause early germination; but we would sow the grass 

 seed (Red-top, Timothy, or Orchard-grass) at the time of 

 sowing the wheat, so that it may get a start in the fall. 



