Seed Should Be Adapted to Locality 



It is quite important to select seed which is adapted or suited to the 

 locahty where it is to be planted. Too often a farmer will ship seed 

 from another state, having been informed that it made a splendid yield, 

 not knowing whether it is suited to his land or his locality. The best 

 results are obtained, as a rule, from seed grown in the locality where it is 

 to be sown, unless a change is necessary on account of the local wheat 

 being diseased or of an inferior quality. It is not advisable to secure 

 wheat from a southern climate to sow in a northern latitude, nor from a 

 humid section to sow in the semi-arid west. In some instances, foreign 

 varieties imported to the United States have made remarkable records. 

 The most valuable importations have been made from Russia. The 

 Red Winter, a Russian wheat, has proven to be, not only a high yielder, 

 but endures extremely cold winters and resists rust better than any of 

 our native wheats. The Durham wheat was also secured from the same 

 country. This variety not only makes a splendid yield, but is very 

 drouth-resisting. 



Rusty Wheat 



should not be sown, nor wheat affected with smut. How to treat wheat 

 for smut is given in the chapter on oats. 



Weeds 



Another thing to be carefully considered is keeping weeds and unde- 

 sirable growths from the field. It is estimated that dockage on account 

 of weed seed depreciates the value of the wheat crop annually in the 

 United States at least five million bushels, not taking into account the 

 loss of moisture and plant food taken by the weeds from the soil. Weeds 

 to be especially avoided are: Russian and Canada thistles, cheat, wild 

 mustard, wild garlic, cockle, wheat thief and yellow berries. 



Insects 



Many insects become very destructive, even to the point of complete 

 annihilation of the crop. While remedies which are said to be beneficial 

 are many, none of them are regarded infallible. In some cases burning 

 stubble, grass and all surface rubbish will destroy them. Early, deep 

 and thorough tillage and crop rotation is sometimes beneficial. For a 

 specific treatment, the writer suggests calling an expert from the local 

 agricultural college. At. best, the process of the eradication of destruc- 

 tive insects is very slow and very discouraging. 



Seeding 



Without question, the best method of sowing wheat is with a drill. 

 It requires less seed and insures a more even depth. If the seed can be 

 covered with one inch of moist earth, germination is rapid and the early 



