THE WHEAT CROP. 
BY CONKAO WILSON. 
The gradual decline of the wheat crop in this 
and other States, and the prevailing low rate of 
production arc facts that have for some years 
been noticed by farmers, with no littlu anxiety. 
The importance of wheat as a fowl staple is too 
vast and inmeasnrablo to leave any room for in¬ 
difference as to its future. In fact the decay of 
this cereal in any section whore it really occurs, 
implies poor farming and dear bread. This Is 
certainly uot a very cheerful topic for farmers ( 
but for those who find wheat no longer a paying 
crop, the true policy, and the only policy, is to 
face the fact promptly, and deal with it resolute¬ 
ly. The case is not by any means so discourag¬ 
ing as it seems, for the evil has not yet passed 
beyond the roach of remedies. 
It is true the average yield, for a number of 
years, has in some sections scarcely reached 12 
bushels per acre, yet there is plenty of proof 
that better crops arc possible, and that no real 
or valid excuse exists for a rate of production so 
absurdly low. It is a well-known fact tlmt ad¬ 
vanced farmers arc continually getting from 20 
to 30 bushels per aero, aud not a few as high as 
40 or 50 bushels. It is also a fact equally perti¬ 
nent that in several foreign countries the general 
result far exceeds the average here, while Eng¬ 
lish farmers, as a rule, get more than double the 
yield obtained in this couutry. These facts 
clearly show that there aro possibilities in 
wheat culture that some farmers know how to 
reach, while others do not. 
If the present condition of this cereal w T ero 
the inevitable result of some mysterious law of 
nature, or Btcrn dccroo of fate, we should bow 
with becomiug humility to a necessity rising 
above our control. But if the present general 
average is mainly the result of careless culture, 
or of fertility wasted by improvident farming, 
(both of which aro undoubtedly true.) then wo 
have only ourselves to blame, and should lose 
no time in repairing the evil. 
That there are modes of amelioration by which 
hopeless soils have been redeemed, and can bo 
again, is a fnct. no longer doubt ful. That there 
are also met hods of culture that would largely 
increase, aud in some cases more than double the 
present yield is equally true, and not difficult to 
prove. It is also true, and still more important., 
that the method which doubles the yield, usually 
makes but a small addition to (he expense per 
acre, while it show’s a dear reduct ion of the cost 
per bushel. This is the testimony of progressive 
farmers, and is confirmed by' facts of experience 
continually coming to light. 
Mr. F. P. Boot of Western Now York, who is 
a wheat grower of 40 years experience, claims 
that it would bo no difficult matter to double 
the yield of wheat in this Ktato, with but trilling 
additional expense of cultivation; and when we 
have seen a man like John Johnston taking a 
farm with a capacity of 12 bushels per acre, and 
bringing it, up to 30 bushels and over, and keep¬ 
ing it up to that level of production for a whole 
generation, such testimony dearly shows that, the 
time has not yet arrived for Eastern farmers 
quietly to surrender a prize so valuable as tin- 
wheat crop, and rely on importing their bread 
from a thousand miles away. If, then, no such 
necessity exists for abandoning this staple, the 
real question to bo considered is not whether 
wheat-growing can bo made to pay; but 
rather, how it is to be done. Tins is the great 
problem that practical farmers are now every¬ 
where intent on solving. From the rural dis¬ 
tricts in nearly every direction, the inquiry con¬ 
tinually arises, and may bo heard to-day ringing 
iu the air over a thousand exhausted fields, 
HOW MAY THE DECLINE OF THE WHEAT CROP EE 
ARRESTED. 
and worn out, soils restored? To this inquiry, 
according to Mr. Root, the obvious answ er is, 
“by thorough cultivation, and by a wise and 
judicious use of manures." lie proposes uo 
patent process, no unvarying system of treat¬ 
ment, but simply the use of the methods best 
adapted to each particular case, and certainly 
there is no higher practical wisdom Jib an this. 
Yet there seems to be a growing desire among 
farmers for precise figures and for routine 
methods. They are everywhere looking for in¬ 
struction more definite and positive, and for 
results more specific aud certain. To meet this 
prevalent feeling and desire, l’rof. Yti.u:. Prof. 
Stockbuukje and others have prepared elaborate 
systems for fertilizing crops, in which a separate 
formula is provided for each particular plant. 
In the following 
FORMULA OF PROF. VILLE FOR WHEAT. 
it will bo seen that the chemical fertilizers pro¬ 
scribed for one acre amount to over half a ton. 
Acid Phosphate of Lime. 3.">f> lbs. 
Nitrate of Potash.. 177 " 
Kill pb ale at Ammonia......222 “ 
Sulphate of Lime...,.HU “ 
Total.luw “ 
This combination is proposed by the author as 
a Complete Fertilizer for Wheat, aud is claimed 
to produco a maximum crop of 40 to 50 bushels 
per acre. In this country we find 
THE THEORY Of PROF. STOCKERIOOE 
more generally u.od. It contains nearly the 
same elements as the French system, but in 
proportions entirely different, as the following 
figures clearly show: 
Kupcroliosphato of Li mo (13 per ct. sol. 
neb!) .. .Mglh*- 
Muriate of I’otash (HO per r». dry salt). 4 s 
Sulphate of Ammonia (24 per ct. dry salt) 
Total for 1 acre .. 413 " 
This formula for wheat claims to add from 25 
to 30 bushels per acre to the natural yield, at 
a cost of £10. Assuming the average gain from 
these chemicals to be 30 bushels per acre, and 
the natural yield to be 10 bushels. This would 
give a total crop of 40 bushels, at an aggregate 
cost of a little over .*‘20 for the plant-food. 
In some formulas arranged by It. Hathaway, 
the three leading elements above named are in¬ 
cluded. though in different proportions, and the 
effect is further modified by the addition of mag¬ 
nesia, which in some oases doubtless improves 
the result. 
ANOTHER FORMULA FOR THE WHEAT CROP, 
still more comprehensive than these, and claim¬ 
ing to give large results, comprises the same 
chemical elements as the Villi', formula above, 
including also (fulphale of Soda. 
But in regard to all formulas for manuring, 
whether intended for the wheat crop or any 
other, one thing, at least, is certain, and should 
never be forgotten: The largest results from 
chemical fertilizers are not obtained when they 
are used to the exclusion of animal dung. On 
the other hand, it is equally certain that animal 
dung, universally adapted us it is to all plant 
growth, only yields its best returns when duly 
supplemented by chemical manures. 
The great value to agriculture of concentrated 
fertilizers is not to be questioned, nor is there 
any doubt that the theories of Yillo and Stock- 
bridge have given an impulse to husbandry by 
shedding much needed light on tbo great ques¬ 
tion of plant nutrition Yet both systems are 
open to improvement. But the claim of a com¬ 
plete fertilize.)' for wheat, as advanced by Prof. 
Vllle, is not by any means warranted. The for¬ 
mula entitled to this distinction is not yet discov¬ 
ered, nor in fnct is any such formula even possi¬ 
ble. There aro. how ever, various degrees of ap¬ 
proach to this perfection, and methods already 
achieved arc full of encouragement for the 
future. Then) aro conditional formulas, not 
only for wheat, but, for all other crops, that are 
clearly foreshadowed, and waiting to bo devel¬ 
oped by more perfect experiments, from which 
will flow results more ample and more certain 
than any yet known. This is a topic of great 
interest to wheat growers and may well animate 
their zeal in the direction of new r and original 
experiments. Further investigation will yet re¬ 
veal 
AN IDEAL FORMULA FOR WHEAT. 
which when fully developed will go far to rescue 
this cereal from its present decline, by infusing 
now life and vigor into worn and neglected soils. 
This improved process of manuring and cultivat¬ 
ing when it comes, will hot be the onigrowth of 
any single system, but tbo blended result of the 
best features of many (systems. Tt will proba¬ 
bly represent the best ideas of Ktockbridge. Yillo 
and other investigators, as tested and improved 
by the latest experience of practical farmers. 
This final result every farmer in the country lias 
it, in bis power to help forward by contributing 
something every year from his own experience, 
and especially by some new and original experi¬ 
ment, tending to throw light on obscure or doubt¬ 
ful points. In this way the average yield of 
wheat for the whole country may soon be raised 
to 25 or 30 bushels per acre, at a cost of pro 
ducLion lower than any yet reached. 
—-- -- 
MORE NOTES FROM THE WHEAT FIELD. 
BY WM. .T, I’OWLEK. 
As good wheat as I Lave seen this year—and 
that is as good as any we ever need to see, has 
been grown on barley stubble. Six acres, the har¬ 
vesting of which I have described to Ritual read¬ 
ers, were so grown. The field web in corn on 
clover sod in 1375, six-rowed barley with phos¬ 
phate last year, and sown with Clawson wheat 
on the 14tli of last September. About 200 lbs, 
of phosphate, wilh a slight admixture of salt, 
were drilled with the peed. It, w as the last piece 
1 sowed, and the hud was so dry that I hud half 
a mind uot to sow it. The drought just after 
harvest last year, made Yciy hard plowing, and 
when the ground was turned up there were so 
many clods mixed with the stubble that it had a 
forbidding aspect. The drag and roller did much 
to smooth the surface, aud a heavy rain, the 
first of September, put it iu excellent condition, 
starting the barley though not all of it iu time 
for it to be turned under by tho cultivator. 
About two-thirds of the field was covered by 
manure in tbo spring of ‘75, and it was all thor¬ 
oughly underdrained. On the summer fallows, 
clover plowed under in June, I thought the land 
was rich enough without much phosphate, bo I 
applied only 100 lbs. per acre. Timely rains 
came after sowing, and, for aught I could see, the 
wheat after barley looked as well as any during 
fall, winter, and spring until harvest. It is not 
quite so thick on the ground as tho fallow, but 
the beads aro longer aud better filled. 
Farmers are learning that they can grow wheat 
after Bpring gr(iin at much loss expense per 
bushel than by giving two years' use of the land 
for it. Tho only trouble in seeding after stubble, 
is that the time 1 h very short to get tho soil in 
good condition. Wheat needs a moist seed-bed 
not deeper than two or three inches, and to that 
depth, as rich and mellow as possible. Now, we 
never plow' less than five or six inches deep, and 
this pulverizes tho soil more deeply than is bene¬ 
ficial. Wo find in practice that it, is better to 
plow seven to nine inches deep, putting tho 
stubble below the reach of the cultivator and 
then working thoroughly on, or near, the sur¬ 
face. On our heavy, loamy soils this deep plow¬ 
ing turns to the surface tho mineral elements of 
tho wheat plant, and if tho surface in thoroughly 
worked, the drag, roller, and tramping of teams 
will compact the subsoil sufficiently. 
A good deal of refuse salt will be used this fall 
on wheat. It can be got by the canal-boat load 
iu Syracuse at £2.50 or less por ton, and the cost 
in Rochester need not exceed three dollars. 
Years ago. I sowed a good deal of salt on wheat, 
with good profit, though I paid fur it about £H 
per ton. Of late, I have used less salt, having 
found the superphosphate more certainly adapt¬ 
ed to this crop. This fall I shall probably sow a 
mixture of salt., phosphate and gypsum, one-third 
of each, and altogether about 300 to 350 lbs. per 
acre. It will cost less than the unmixed phos¬ 
phate and 1 doubt not will produce a bettor ef¬ 
fect. 
Tho clover Reeding this year, owing to the 
heavy growth of wheat, is very small. It is all 
there, however, and will grow rapidly enough 
now that the w heat is out of tho way. Last Fri¬ 
day w'o had a glorious rain which wot the ground 
to the depth of three or four inches; and we 
have had other showers since. A year ago one 
of my neighbors had a field of five acres of whoat 
which yielded 30’ j bushels per acre. The clover 
after harvest, seemed to bo entirely smothered ; 
but by keeping out stock and giving the clover a 
chance, he had this summer fully two tons of 
good hay per acre. I am satisfied that very 
rarely, on good heavy wheat soils, will the clover 
bo killed out in summer so that it will not cover 
the ground by fall, if cattle and sheep aro kept 
out. I know that the best seeding of clover may 
be nearly ruined by too close pasturing iu the 
fall. Timothy is losR liable to injury aud espe¬ 
cially if sown with the wheat in the fall. It will 
sometimes, how ever, get too large a growth and 
injure the grain. The better plan is to sow the 
wheat before the middle of September and sow 
timothy seed two or three weeks later. Two 
quarts of grass seed, sown in the fall, will give a 
better stand than twice I ho quantity sown iu 
spring. Clover seed must of course he sown in 
March or April as, when young, it is tender and 
easily winter killed. I have never practiced solv¬ 
ing timothy alone iu tho fall, but 1 have seen 
many failures to get a crop from fields ihu- 
sown. The land would be no better seeded aud 
give no better crop the second year than when 
seeded with wheat or rye, Mv idea is that the 
grain helps the young grass as much during our 
severe winters us it injures it between spring 
tiuio and harvest- Tho old fashioned method of 
seeding with grain, sowing timothy seed iu the 
fall, with wheat and clover in tho spring, is 
founded on pretty careful experience of many 
farmers, aud it is not worth while to try to 
change it. There is generally more reason for 
tho old-fashioned practices of farmers than 
theorizing innovators give them credit for. 
--- 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE TURNIP. 
The turnip is a useful vegetable, and is now 
appreciated as it ought to be. It is excellent 
for the table and is excellent, as all know, for 
stock feeding. 
More than fifty years ago there were but two 
or three varieties of the turnip known to our 
then farmers. Now there aro over one hundred 
distinct varieties. In the northern States, the 
seed is sown without regard to weather, hot, 
dry or wet, on the 24th of July, probably because 
thoir fathers did so, as our old farmers sow tlifiir 
seed for “cow cumbers " on tho 1st day of May 
before sunrise, to insure a good crop. 
The farmer will find that his early potatoes 
will cotne off in time for sowing seed for fall 
turnips, and the villager his early onions, beans 
and peas. 
Clear off the vines and weeds, spread ovor 
with some well rotted manure, then throw' a 
light furrow with a plow with rows wide enough 
apart to admit of cultivation, sow the seed and 
cover lightly with rich, damp earth. For trans¬ 
planting, the seed should bo sown in the early 
part of June, and the plants should be set from 
twelve to fifteen inches apart; if dry, the plants 
should be well watered at the time of setting out 
and they are sure to live. f, u. s. 
Jam (Bionomil. 
v A -O 
FALL PLOWING. 
Hitherto I have been a strong advocate of 
plowing in autumn, but at tho present moment 
I have some crops which are everything that 
could be desired growing on land that was not 
under any control until late this spring, aud 
which, therefore, was not plowed until it was 
nearly time to plant the crops, The excellent 
condition iff these has shaken my faith some¬ 
what. in tho superiority of fall plowing, so far 
at least, that it Booms tbo main advantage of 
it consists iu the very convenient Bet-forward 
it is in the spring to have the plowing already 
done. Moreove r, when tho crop is corn, the cut¬ 
worm is not so destructive, and in addition to 
these two reasons for having tho plowing done 
so as to lie all w inter, it has also been considered 
that the frost had then a better effect in pulver¬ 
izing the soil and making a good seed bed. 
Yet, as years roll by a ruan finds there is more 
to learn than he over dreamt of, and farmers 
need eaeli others help in investigating many 
points and subjects seemingly settled long ago. 
A good agricultural paper affords better oppor¬ 
tunities for exchanging i leas and bringing for¬ 
ward prorffs to settle knotty questions, than any 
other device; for there aro thousands of farmers 
in every Ktato who, though they might not be 
able to rise and make a speech, yet could have 
their say, without much difficulty, with pen and 
ink. Let us discuss together therefore, brother 
farmers, through the Ritual New-Yorker, dur¬ 
ing the ensuing fall and winter, all subjects 
of interest or benefit to us, aud good-humoredly 
“ agree to differ" on some of them. No one 
need be ashamed to acknowledge that he has 
been in the wrong, for all agree that this is but 
saying, in other words, that ho is wiser to-day 
than ho was yesterday. 
Farmers, like other classes of men, bare all 
sorts of characters among thorn, but the most 
numerous sot are those who dislike anything 
out of tho old routine, and who form an opinion 
not at all complimentary, of any new-comer in 
their vicinity, who either grows crops different 
from those they have been accustomed to, or 
prepares his laud iu a manner strange to them. 
A Working Farmer. 
TRANSPLANTING. 
Although it might be considered out of Rea¬ 
son to introduce this subject—as transplanting 
is, for valid reasons, seldom done in the open air 
at this time of year—still, it is a good time to 
notice the result of operations of last fall and 
Spring under this head. Must writers on the 
cultivation of small fruits and garden vegeta¬ 
bles, give special directions fur their removal 
from the propagating bed to the garden rr field, 
but so far I have never seen a printed or written 
description of the method practiced on this east¬ 
ern shore of Lake Michigan, where so much 
transplanting is dono. This is a method which 
seems to have suggested itself to the judgment 
or good sense of almost every one, in this region, 
who cultivates small fruits, especially the straw¬ 
berry, aud one which scorns specially adapted to 
our light, dry, sandy soils, perfectly free from 
stones and pebbles. Of course, the chemical con¬ 
dition of tho soil has to be taken into account in 
deciding upon tho method best adapted to it, and 
onr method might uot work well among stones, 
or iu very stiff clay. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
We take up the plants with a spade by thrust¬ 
ing it down deep, so as to leave the roots as long 
as possible, for reasons which I shall give herein. 
In planting, we make a hole with the same tool, 
as doep, at least, as the length of tho roots; then 
place the plant at its proper depth aud press the 
soil togclbcr with tho hands or the foot. Toma¬ 
toes are planted in the same way, except that if 
they aro long and slender, they are set at a depth 
that will insure their upright position, often six 
and even ten inches above tbe crown. 
Now this may look to nice gardeners rather 
slovenly, but we reason thus:—The most im¬ 
portant thing is to insure the life of tho plant 
which, in strawberries, wo accomplish by setting 
tbe routs deep and the crown in tho right posi¬ 
tion. knowing that if the plants live and tho 
roots are not iu a position to suit nature, they 
will throw oat new ones to nuit themselves, and 
that in whatever position you place the loots, 
and however much you may' prune them or 
the leaves, according to the rules in books, 
