504 



Sowing of Wheat. 



[Sept:, 



Recent work at Rothamsted has, however, demonstrated the 

 possibility of synthetic production of farmyard manure from 

 straw and artificials without the use of animals at all. The 

 straw is allowed to decompose, forming humus, and the necessary 

 nitrogen compound is supplied in the form of an ammonium 

 salt. The details of the method are being fully worked out at 

 Rothamsted. 



****** 



In view of the great need to grow more wheat at the- 

 present time, the following notes on the more important points 



Sowing of Wheat. which should be considered in sowing are in 

 season : — 



Preparation of Seed Bed. — On the typical wheat soil of East 

 Anglia — chalky boulder clay — the weight of evidence in 

 respect of bare fallows or half-fallows seems to be in favour of 

 preliminary deep cultivation, either by plough or cultivator, 

 followed by more superficial workings to secure a deep tilth 

 firm below and relatively loose and fine above. When this stage 

 is reached further ploughing is deemed a mistake, as tending to 

 promote " root -fall " and lodging of the crop. 



After a fallow crop, for which the land has already been 

 deeply tilled, fleet ploughing for wheat is the rule, but some 

 farmers obtain excellent results by ploughing at least 8 inches 

 deep and pressing afterwards. Following potatoes, cultivating 

 without ploughing is a common and successful practice. So long 

 as a firm, yet penetrable, bottom tilth, combined with a looser, 

 freer tilth at the surface, is obtained, the mode of accomplish- 

 ment appears to be relatively unimportant. 



Seed. — Trials show that so long as pure seed is maintained, 

 the same stock may be used year after year on the same farm 

 without risk of diminished productivity. In late wheat-growing 

 districts a change of seed may be an advantage. Seed from an 

 early district will be found to mature sooner and be less exposed 

 to the dangers of a late harvest. 



In every case the seed must be clean, healthy and of good 

 germinating capacity. Every year many crops fail, either wholly 

 or partially, through neglect on the part of the farmer to perform 

 a simple germination test. 



The question of the choice of variety is more difficult. One is 

 better suited to a particular set of conditions than another. 

 Local experience is generally the best guide, but farmers who 

 have not yet tried " Yeoman " would be well advised to .do so.. 



