WHEAT 



199 



are so extensive. Rotations, therefore, are not profitable as yet. Even- 

 tually these large farms Avill be made into smaller ones, and it will be neces- 

 sary to properly rotate the crops for profitable yields. 



Continuous culture of wheat not only reduces the fertility of the 

 soil, but multiplies the insects and fungous diseases injurious to wheat. 

 Rotations are greatly modified in different localities by the crop-pro- 

 ducing power of the soil and by the crops produced. Wheat is frequently 

 grown in a rotation in order to obtain a stand of grass. The value of 



Effect of Time of Preparing Seed Bed. Yield of Bagged Wheat. 1 



rotations from the economic standpoint has been discussed in a previous 

 chapter. 



Preparation of the Seed-Bed. — The method used in preparing a seed- 

 bed for wheat is determined by the rotation and kind of wheat grown. 

 In winter wheat sections wheat may follow corn, oats, potatoes or tobacco. 

 Wheat requires a firm, fine and moist, seed-bed, whether it be sown in the 

 fall or spring. When wheat follows corn, potatoes or tobacco, the ground 

 should be thoroughly plowed for these crops in the spring of the year, 

 and the crop grown should receive thorough and regular cultivation as 

 long as possible. After the crop is harvested double disking should put 

 the ground in ideal shape for the seeding of wheat. 



When winter wheat follows oats the stubble should be plowed as 

 early as possible. The early breaking of oat stubble gives more time 



1 Courtesy of Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. 



