572 Transactioxs of tub American Institute. 



may be done by two plowings and as many harrowings, to make the 

 land clean for the wheat. 



Just the same work has been done as in the case of the naked fal- 

 low, in the way of cultivation, and we have our crop of barley or 

 oats, that will not only pay for all the work, but will give a very 

 liberal interest on the value of the land. Unless the land is quite 

 foul with weeds, only one plowing is necessary after the spring crop 

 is taken off. A good clover sod turned under in the spring will so 

 decay that when it is turned up again, just before the wheat is to be 

 sown, the ground will be covered with evenly distributed manure in 

 its best condition, and at the best j^lace, to give life and vigor to the 

 young wheat plants. 



I have tried, and seen tried, one, two and three plowings between 

 the harvesting of the spring crop and the sowing of the wheat, and 

 am convinced that it is only in very rare cases that it is necessary to 

 resort to the naked fallow: and ii;i such cases the work should begin 

 the year ])efore the wheat is to be sown, and the land be cultivated 

 as often as the noxious weeds show themselves during all the season, up 

 to wheat sowing. Where all this work is necessary the farmer is 

 engaged in killing weeds, rather than in raising wheat, and he will 

 probabl}^ find that his crop of wheat barely pays for the labor. 



This plan of raising wheat after a spring crop has been extensively 

 followed in this vicinity, and with entire success, by our best farmers, 

 and they very rarely resort to a naked fallow, though winter wheat 

 is their leading crop, and their average is over twenty-five bushels to 

 the acre, and their lands are growing cleaner year by year. 



It is very common here to pasture a clover field up to the latter 

 part of August, and then, by one perfect plowing, reverse the sod, 

 and perhaps spread a light dressing of barnyard manure, that has 

 l)ecn well rotted, on the furrows, then level down with a harrow and 

 drill in the wlieat. Sometimes the clover is made into hay where 

 the land is not required for pasture. By this treatment I have seen 

 very large crops of wheat raised, and at less cost per bushel than by 

 any other process. Lands tliat are heavy, that is, lands in which clay 

 is in excess, it is advisable to plow earlier than tlie latter part of 

 August, and by means of the harrow and steel-toothed cultivator 

 keep down all wxeds and keep mellow the surface of the soil. More 

 time is thus given to draw and spread the barnyard manure and to 

 allow the sod to decay and benefit the young Avheat. 



