524 
THE RURAL-WIW-YORKER. 
AUG, 44 
We expressed the opinion some years ago— 
then contrary to the statements of botanists— 
that it was possible for wheats to cross with¬ 
out human intervention. And we are still in¬ 
clined to think so. Yet if self-crossing does 
occur, it certainly occurs very rarely. Dur¬ 
ing our wheat investigations, we have had all 
the way from 25 to 100 varieties growing side 
by side in little plots—sometimes but a single 
row or even a few plants—a single plant—of 
each. 
The plants raised from these have invariably 
come true to name, in so far as we have ob¬ 
served. Most of the varieties now sent to us 
for trial, under new names, are, we are moral¬ 
ly confident, old varieties. A plant or so, dif¬ 
ferent from the rest of the field, is discovered 
by some one. It is preserved and raised sep¬ 
arately, given a name and disseminated as a 
new wheat, whereas it may easily have hap¬ 
pened that the seed of an old variety, un¬ 
known in its new locality, was dropped by a 
bird or mixed in with the seed wheat. 
In 19 cases out of 20 it will be found that 
when the anthers have pushed through between 
the floral envelopes (glumes and palets), they 
have discharged all of their pollen, and it will 
further be seen that the ovary has begun 
growth. The anthers before maturity are be¬ 
low the pistil. As they begin to mature the 
filament elongates and the anther is carried up 
to the stigma. Then it bursts and sheds its 
pollen and is, so to say, rejected 
as worthless matter. Still, we have 
very often seen the flowers gaping 
open. But in all such cases the pollen had 
been shed. Whether all wheat flowers do 
gape open at a certain period after impregna¬ 
tion, the writer can not say. Whether this 
gaping open is due to hygroscopic conditions, 
is confined to certain seasons, to certain vari¬ 
eties or is in any wayconnected with the im¬ 
mediate aftereffects of impregnation we know 
not. This one thing we know—in all of our 
rye-wheat hybrids that are sterile or nearly 
so, the flowers gape open for hours, and in 
many never afterwards quite close. The 
flowers gape open so wide that at a distance of 
ten feet we can readily detect which are the 
sterile heads. 
If, then, it is possible for wheat to cross 
without outside help, it must occur during 
this gaping period. That it does so occur we 
have no evidence. 
THE VARIETIES FIRST TO BE INTRODUCED. 
We have now selected six different varieties 
for introduction in a year or so,. Of these, 
four kinds, Nos. 51, 50, 53 and 55 (from photo¬ 
graphs of typical, selected heads), are pure 
wheat crosses. Nos. 2 and 3 are half 
rye, though they have no appearance of rye 
in any respect. It will be remembered by 
our older readers that in our first cross 
between rye and wheat one of the nine seeds 
which formed and matured produced a plant 
resembling rye, most of the heads of which 
were sterile. The eight seeds gave plants 
which, though all different, were all fertile 
and essentially wheats. The Nos. 2 and 
3 are continued selections from this fertile 
section of wheat-rye hybrids. Whether they 
or the crossed wheats will prove superior to 
the popular kinds now in the market, is a 
question that trial alone can determine. 
They will be put upon the market 
either next year or the year after—the 
lime depending upon next year’s crop—by 
some seedsman, in very small quantity and at 
a very high price. It is the intention of the 
R. N.-Y. to send a few grains to all of our 
subscribers who apply as soon as a sufficient 
stock can be accumulated for that purpose. 
Due notice of the time for application will 
be given. As has already been stated, next 
year several others of the cross-bred wheats 
will be propagated for introduction; the year 
after several more and so on for many years. 
Meanwhile there is little doubt that the rye- 
wheat hybrids from the infertile section will 
have become fixed and ready for introduction. 
DESCRIPTION. 
No. 2. Half wheat half rye by parentage, 
though resembling wheat in all respects. 
Nearly as early to mature as rye. Stem 
purplish in color. Heads average over three 
inches long, eight breasts (or spikelets) to a 
side. Chaff' white, beardless. Often four grains 
to a breast, always three, of medium size, 
amber color and apparently hard. 
No. 3. Half wheat half rye by parentage, 
though resembling wheat in all respects. 
Nearly as early as rye to ripen. Tall, yellow, 
stiff straw. Heads average three inches long, 
seven breasts to aside. Chaff brown, bearded. 
Three grains to a breast, small to medium 
size, dark amber color. 
No. 50. Pure wheat cross. Early. Stem 
yellow. Heads average over three inches 
and somewhat club-shaped, seven breasts to a 
side, chaff white, beardless. Generally four 
grains to a breast, medium to small in size, 
amber color and hard. 
No. 51. Pure wheat crosses. Late. Stem 
yellow. Heads very long, averaging over four 
inches, nine breasts to a side, chaff brown, 
heavily bearded. From three to four grains 
to a breast, medium size, amber color. Stem 
tall and strong. 
No. 53. Pure wheat cross. Medium to ma¬ 
ture. Stems pink. Heads average nearly 
four inches. Breasts crowded—often 10 to a 
side. Chaff very clear and white, heavily 
bearded. Four grains toaspikelet—sometimes 
fi ve _fair size, amber color. Inclined to club- 
head. 
No. 55. Pure wheat cross. Medium to 
ripen. Stems yellow. Heads average nearly 
four inches. Eight breasts to a side. Chaff 
white, heavily bearded, three to four grains 
to a breast, fair size, bright amber color, 
hard. Regular heads ; that is, not inclined to 
club. 
fiftft Crops. 
1 URGE WHEIT CROP. 
How it is Produced. 
THE WHOLE STORY. 
Working the Ground : Yarieties; 
How sown; Fertilizers used; 
Best Soils, Etc., Etc. 
PROPER DEPTH FOR PLANTING WHEAT. 
A year or more ago we gave the picture shown 
at Fig 280 to illustrate an experiment con 
ducted at Conell University. At the request 
of several new readers we republish it in con¬ 
nection with the articles on wheat raising in 
this issue. The figures below indicate the 
depths at which the seeds were planted. 
No. 1..planted at. % to % inch. 
it 
tt 
(i 
2 . 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6 . 
7. 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
tt 
1 X 
2 “ 2X 
2^ “ 8 
.3 “ 3K 
3X “ 4 
6 “ 
It is concluded that the seeds planted at )4—% 
inch produced by far the strongest plants. 
The wheat plant tends to spread its roots just 
below the surface of the soil. Notice how the 
seeds planted at greater depths than 1% inch 
form two sets of roots or form a stem so weak 
as to fail to give proper support to the plant. 
The conclusion arrived at by the conductor of 
this experiment was that “depths of not less 
than % or more than 1% inch are probably 
the extremes for wheat to secure the best 
results.” 
FROM T. B. TERRY. 
The best way to prepare the ground for 
wheat (winter wheat, of course), on my farm, 
is to plow a heavy clover sod in the spring, as 
soon as it is dry enough to crumble when 
turned, and then work it as often as once a 
week on the average all summer. The harrow 
and cultivator, etc., will do the working, and 
all weeds are kept down. Perhaps I should 
say that during this season of preparation I 
grow a crop of early potatoes on the ground 
and get from $75 to $100 an acre for them. I 
do not know of any better preparation. Per¬ 
haps the next best way would be to grow corn 
for ensilage, while working the grourd. Cut 
the corn close to the ground, and the disc or 
cutaway harrow will fit the soil best. I never 
plow potato stubble for wheat. In a dry day 
the disc harrow will break up dry vines. I 
find no difficulty in breaking them up so as 
to use the smoothing harrow last. After the 
smoothing harrow comes the roller. One may 
roll as much as he pleases, while preparing 
the ground, provided it is dry when the roller 
is used, but my experience is against rolling 
after sowing, as a general rule. I have known 
a season when it would have helped the wheat 
to get a start, it was so dry ; but it is seldom 
that one will have any trouble in this way, if 
he makes the ground very fine and firm. 
I have grown the Fultz wheat for many 
years and, know of no other kind yet that is as 
nearly perfect for my soil—a strong loam, 
well drained. 
All my large crops of wheat have been 
from broadcast sowing, with a seeder attach 
ed to a sulky cultivator. But I am not saying 
that they would not have been just as good if 
put in with a drill. For my drained soil I 
doubt whether it makes any difference which 
tool is used for putting in the crop. A drill 
was tried one year and the wheat was more 
winter killed than usual, owing to the season 
of course. 
The drill is a nice tool and but for the cost 
I should get one. I raise but 12 acres of 
wheat a year, and a $13 seeder attachment 
has answered my "purpose. If I remember 
correctly, there were five seasons in succession 
in which I averaged 35 bushels per acre from 
this method of sowing. I think there are 
many other things more important than the 
way wheat is put in. With other conditions 
all right, one can sow by hand and raise 40 
bushels per acre. No fertilizer or manure of 
any kind is ever used directly for wheat. All 
the manure l have is put on the clover sod for 
potatoes. What the potatoes leave, and what 
the constant tillage of th6 season produces or 
renders available is all that is safe on my soil, 
and frequently more than is safe. My crops 
sometimes get down badly. If I were asked 
to tell in four words the most possible as to 
how I had grown such crops of wheat the 
answer would be “ clover sod and tillage.” I 
know men who have just as good land as I and 
who buy and use fertilizers, and still they 
come out behind at harvest time, and the 
trouble lies in these few words. Timothy sod 
and half preparation will never bring the 
bushels per acre, other things being equal, 
that clover sod and thorough and long con¬ 
tinued tillage will. But in saying the above 
I would not overlook my tight stable floors 
and about 15 loads of good manure per acre, 
that go on the clover sod. There are plenty 
of farmers who waste half of their manure 
and buy fertilizers and complain that farm¬ 
ing does not pay. 
I have tried different quantities of seed per 
acre—all the way from one bushel to two and 
a half, and have settled down on about one 
bushel and four quarts, for my soil. More 
seed Brings no more wheat, but more and 
weaker straw. But with this small quantity 
we want to sow early—say about September 8. 
The seed receives no treatment before sowing 
except a thorough cleaning. Nothing but 
perfectly clean wheat is ever sown. Wheat 
never turns to chess on my farm, because 
there is no chess seed in the soil, and I never 
sow any. 
I sometimes roll in the spring, if the plants 
are thrown out much, but never harrow, be¬ 
cause the only perfectly sure time to sow 
clover seed, and always get a catch, is about 
the first of March, with me, and harrowing 
after the ground got dry enough, would injure 
th6 clover. I have known many to sow their 
seed after harrowing, and very dry weather 
ruined the catch. In 19 years I have never 
once failed with the seed sown on the surface 
early, and left for the freezing and thawing to 
cover. On my soil I should not expect any great 
returns from harrowing any way ; but on the 
heavy clays, farmers sometimes get good re¬ 
sults from this treatment; that is, in the form 
of wheat. But I can never harrow, as I 
would not sow wheat without clover seed 
with it at the time that it is .most liable to 
catch. To sow wheat alone without clover 
seed would be as foolish for me as to haul 
potatoes to Akron, with one horse while the 
other was standing in the barn. 
I speak of clover alone; but I usually sow a 
little Timothy too. I then get more and bet¬ 
ter hay; at any rate I can cure it better; but 
clover is the important plant and is given the 
best chance. If one wants to give the Timo¬ 
thy the best chance, he should sow it in the 
fall when drilling the wheat. If he wants to 
give the clover and wheat the best chance he 
had better sow at the same time he does his 
clover seed in the early spring. I say at the 
same time; but I sow each kind separately 
with a Gaboon hand-seeder. When Timothy 
seed is sown in the fall, if the wheat winter- 
kills at all, the Timothy gets the start and the 
wheat amounts to little. I can show many 
acres around here in just that fix to-day. 
Now, supposing they sowed clover seed on 
there in the spring, it was almost like sowing 
on a turf, the Timothy had got such a start. 
Result: little wheat, plenty of Timothy and 
clover seed mostly wasted. I want wheat 
first, when I sow it, and therefore let it have 
the ground to itself until spring. Then 1 want 
clover next; so I sow it not on a young sod, 
but on bare ground and a little Timothy with 
it ;given an even chance,it will hold its own. 
I want a little Timothy to work into the 
clover here and there, as it can find a spot thin 
enough, and I get it. Last year and this I 
cut more than three big loads to the acre of 
such bay from newly-seeded (and 1 have no 
other) fields; there was no Timothy in the 
wheat and the second crop clover yields about 
30 bushels of seed (on 12 acres) and the roots 
bring more crops of potatoes and wheat. . I 
sow four to five quarts of clover seed per acre 
and as little Timothy as I well can—say two 
or three quarts. I use Medium clover. 
Summit County, Ohio. 
FROM A. L. CROSBY. 
With me wheat succeeds the oat crop. This 
gives the garlic—with which I am much 
troubled—a chance to seed in the oat field; 
and in following corn with oats there is no 
hurry in harvesting the corn, or in having the 
wheat field cut up with blanks where the corn 
shocks stood, as would be the case if wheat 
succeeded the corn. Wheat on sod is open to 
the same objection as after corn or oats 
—garlic. I like to plow as soon as the oats 
are off the ground, and then work it all I can 
with harrow, roller and cultivator until the 
time to sow, say from September 20 to October 
25, the latter date being rather late. 1 always 
sow Fultz; it has stiff straw, no beard, is 
hardy, and yields and sells well. Invariably 
drill wheat. I am now using the Bickford & 
Hoffman improved fertilizer grain-drill, and 
like it. 1 use it to drill oats, and this year cow- 
peas also. 
As for fertilizers I don’t begin to know 
which is best; but I have about settled down 
to raw and dissolved bone, as my soil does not 
seem to need either ammonia or potash. Dis¬ 
solved S. C. rock used to give me satisfactory 
returns, but last year it seemed to fail of good 
results. Last fall I drilled in 300 pounds of 
raw bone per acre ; on part of the field I tried 
the same quantity of ammoniated superphos¬ 
phate ; on another part, dissolved bone, and 
then a mixture of raw bone and superphos¬ 
phate, I left spaces on each part with no 
fertilizers, and the dissolved bone seems to be 
a little ahead as far as the wheat is concerned; 
but I think the raw bone will lead next year 
on the grass. I have drilled from one to one 
and one-half bushel of wheat per acre, and if 
a good season could be guaranteed, I think 
one bushel would yield as much as the soil is 
cabable of producing. I have tried on small 
afeas from one peck up, but I think one 
bushel little enough even in a good season. I 
never treat the seed for smut, etc. Last fall 
I sowed very smutty seed, and see no ill effects, 
so far. I do not like rolling after sowing, 
though it might aid germination in a very 
dry time. I tried it in 1886 to prevent winter, 
killing, but it did not answer. 
If no grass is sown with the wheat, I think 
spring harrowing beneficial if the soil is hard; 
if not, I would prefer rolling. I sow Timothy 
m the fall, and clover in the spring; sometimes 
fall-sown clover will do well here, but it is too 
uncertain. From six to eight quarts of each 
are about right; better have it too thick than 
too thin. Judging from samples of wheat on 
’Change in Baltimore, cockle seems to be a 
favorite flower with a good many farmers; 
but I never could understand why they per¬ 
sist in growing it with their wheat, as it 
would show to much better advantage if 
grown by itself, and, besides, it injures the 
sale of the wheat. It is the easiest weed to 
get rid of in the wheat field, if the drill is 
used in putting in the wheat. When in blos¬ 
som, by going carefully through the field- 
nearly every plant can be seen, as it is not a 
bashful plant by any means. Garlic, on the 
contrary, is modest and unassuming, and does 
not try to emulate the wheat in bight, but 
nestles its not very showy head under the up¬ 
per leaves of the wheat plant. Most farmers 
also grow a little rye with their wheat; I do 
not know why, for it is very little work to 
fasten a knife blade on the end of a light stick, 
three or four feet long, and by taking a swath 
of eight or ten feet in width, a large field is 
soon gone over and the rye heads cut off. The 
only way to make a profit in wheat at present 
prices is to have many bushels on few acres. 
Baltimore County, Md. 
FROM A. C. GLIDDEN. 
Soils upon which wheat is grown differ so 
widely that it is difficult to give a rule of 
preparation that will be applicable to all alike. 
I have seen very rude preparation on poor 
soils that yielded a maximum crop for that 
kind of land, and the truth compels me to say 
that the very best preparation will sometimes 
end in a failure, so much depends upon 
climatic conditions, yet no farmer can afford 
to ignore the fact that the best preparation is 
the safest. A natural wheat soil responds 
to good treatment and good cultivation in 
a way to compensate for the outlay for 
labor, a great deal better than other land. A 
gravelly loam I consider the very best kind of 
soil for wheat, that is, it is the safest, one 
year with another. It can be depended upon 
to give uniformly good crops year after year, 
although, perhaps, not as heavy yields as 
stronger clay or prairie soils will sometimes 
produce, but failures are wide'apart and not 
so complete, 
If I could control all the conditions that 
affect the outcome of a crop of wheat, I think 
I could lay out a method of procedure that 
would insure success every time, I would 
