PLANTING OR SOWING WHEAT. 29 



QUANTITY OF SEED TO THE ACRE. 



As in many other farm matters, there is diversity of 

 opinion as to the quantity of seed it is best to sow, but 

 judgment and circumstances must determine the point in 

 different situations. Different preparation of both seed 

 and soil will render more or less seed necessary ; climate 

 and season have much to do with it ; kind of soil and 

 variety of wheat, also, have a bearing upon the question. 

 Wheats which tiller largely, like Clawson, Fultz, Gold 

 Medal, etc., need less seed to the acre. Rich, fertile 

 soil requires less than poor land. A long season and 

 warm climate require less, as affording better conditions 

 for spreading and growing ; fine, deep pulverization of 

 the soil, which gives heavier growth to each plant, needs 

 less seed, and well-cleaned, sound grain requires less 

 seed than otherwise. Then more seed is required when 

 sown in the spring than in the fall on the same land. 

 Many circumstances enter into the determination of the 

 question, so that careful discretion should be exercised 

 by each grower for his own special case. The manner 

 of planting, whether by drill or broadcast, and the style 

 of drill used, make more or less seed necessary. If seed 

 is well screened and brined, with all light, foul seed 

 skimmed off, of course less will be necessary. From three 

 to six pecks, per acre, is about right, as a general rule. 



Broadcast sowing is hardly safe with less than six 

 pecks to the acre of good seed, to secure full seeding to 

 all parts of the ground, as some spots will get too much, 

 and some will not be covered. With drill planting the 

 seed is more evenly distributed, and more completely 

 covered, with none too much in any one place ; hence 

 less is needed. Some styles of drills distribute the seed 

 better than others, some of them making four pecks 

 necessary, while with the others three pecks will be suffi- 

 cient. If every kernel were properly planted, and all 



