THE WHEAT CULTTJKIST. 



211 



crops should be raised for feeding as will furnish the 

 elements for the richest manure, such manures being 

 found the most economical for application to the soil. 

 It will scarcely be necessary to say that wheat may 

 be grown on a variety of soils, as there exists a great 

 diversity over the region in which it is a leading 

 crop. 



Farmers all over 'New England may just as well raise 

 their own wheat as to purchase their flour at such an 

 extortionate price ; and often be so scandalously imposed 

 on by those who sell a poor article for a large price. 

 The whole system of wheat growing may all be summed 

 up in a few words, namely : Cultivate well^ and manure 

 tountifully. Usually the best preparation of the land 

 for wheat, is a dressing of rich, well-rotted, or com- 

 posted, barn-yard manure. Unrotted manure tends to 

 produce a heavy growth of straw, which will be liable 

 to rust, and yield less grain. The best practice is to 

 apply it late in autumn, simply harrowing it in after 

 the land has been well ploughed. By spring it is well 

 decomposed. Where it is desirable to apply the manure 

 in the spring, scrape the hog-yard for it with broad 

 hoes, and use heaps of fine manure previously collected ; 

 and if the soil be compact and heavy, add well-rotted 

 chip manure. On soils in which there is a great amount 

 of vegetable matter, never apply any barn-yard manure, 

 unless it has been thoroughly composted or rotted. On 

 land where there is usually a great growth of straw, 

 wood ashes, either leached or unleached, applied in lib- 

 eral quantities, will have an excellent influence in pro- 

 ducing a bountiful crop of grain. After ten years of 

 thorough cultivation and manuring, the heavy crops 

 of wheat will appear. 



