G8 



Management of Wheat. 



light manures, it is best covered by means of harrowing or hoeing, 

 or it may be drilled between the rows. 



Soot is much used as a top-dressing for wheat, and is com- 

 monly found very beneficial. From 40 to 60 bushels per acre 

 are generally applied. It has a tendency to increase the quantity 

 and improve the quality of the wheat, without forcing an undue 

 quantity of straw. It should be sown in February or March at 

 the latest. It is however frequently sown as late as the month 

 of May; but if a dry summer follows, it is in that case of little 

 or no value. As ammonia is the principal ingredient of this 

 manure, it should be covered by means of the hoe or harrow, 

 being liable to waste by evaporation; and, as it is a very light 

 substance, calm and showery weather must be chosen for apply- 

 ing it. This manure is found to be peculiarly suited to the 

 county of Hertford, and consequently a very large proportion of 

 the soot made in the metropolis comes into this county. It has 

 been used in Essex, Kent, Middlesex, and other counties, but in 

 most cases without general beneficial results. 



Rape-cake is a valuable manure for wheat. It may be applied 

 at the time of sowing the seed, or drilled between the rows in the 

 spring. From 8 to 16 bushels per acre are generally found suf- 

 ficient. It is best adapted to ordinary heavy soils that are well 

 drained, or have a dry subsoil. 



Malt-dust, to the extent of from 30 to 50 bushels per acre, is 

 occasionally used as a top-dressing for wheat. 



Bones may be applied with much advantage upon dry soils 

 previous to sowing the wheats at the rate of from 16 to 30 bushels 

 per acre. 



Guano, at the rate of from 2 to 3 cwt. per acre, is sometimes 

 advantageously used at the time of sowing the wheat. This ma- 

 nure is found most beneficial on poor loamy soils. 



The nitrates of soda or of potash are occasionally used at the rate 

 of from 1 to 3 cwt. per acre, and applied broadcast in March or 

 April. Chemical analysis has proved that wheat always contains 

 a much larger proportion of potash than of soda ; hence we may 

 suppose that nitrate of potash is the best of the two : it is, how- 

 ever, the most expensive. As to the application of nitrate of 

 soda to wheat when it has a yellow or sickly appearance in the 

 spring, if finely pulverized, and sown in moist weather, it will in 

 a few days alter the sickly hue to a luxuriant green. As it in- 

 creases the quantity of straw, it is best suited to poor loams and 

 gravelly soils. 



Common salt is sometimes applied before sowing the seed, at 

 the rate of from 10 to 21 bushels per acre, and is often beneficial 

 in bringing the ears to perfection : it also causes a greater weight 

 of grain, but seldom increases the quantity of straw. 



