56o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
August 13 
wanted in the management of the land, was to get a 
good crop every year. The first step was to tile drain, 
to prepare the land for clover growing, and to prevent 
the wheat being frozen out. The next step was to 
put all the manure I could get on the clover sod. One 
field of 11 acres has been top-dressed four times in 15 
years, at the rate of 18 to 20 large loads per acre. 
The other fields have not had manure in such abun¬ 
dance. The question that concerned me most, was 
whether I could grow heavy yields of wheat after 
corn. 
History of a Field. —The 11-acre field had never, 
previous to tile drainage, produced over eight bushels 
of wheat per acre. The soil is what is termed white- 
oak clay, with some black soil. I thought if I could 
reach 20 bushels per acre after corn, it would be doing 
as well as I could expect. This was the limit I set on 
my efforts. The first crop was an entire failure, or 
nearly so, returning only the seed. The next crop in 
regular rotation gave 25 bushels per acre, then 26, fol¬ 
lowed by 39, and then dropping last year to 31 bushels 
per acre. This field has never had used on it a particle 
of commercial fertilizer. Tile drainage, clover manure, 
and tillage have made these crops. Next year, when 
this field is again sown to wheat, I expect to use 200 
pounds of superphosphate per acre. 
Another field, better soil naturally, that has not had 
so much manure, has given 24, 26 and 31 bushels per 
acre, the last yield for this year. On this field, we 
have used commercial fertilizer twice as an aid to the 
wheat crop. The evidence in its favor each time was 
that it made one-third to one-half the crop. The way 
this conclusion was reached, was by leaving strips 
that received no commercial fertilizer ; the difference 
in appearance at harvest time, was as indicated above. 
These results are certainly as strong evidence as is 
necessary to prove that wheat can successfully be 
grown on clay land, after corn. 
Preparation of the Land. —After I have the land 
in good condition by tile drainage, the use of manure, 
and growing clover, comes the preparation of the 
land for the wheat crop. When fallow land is pre¬ 
pared for wheat, it is conceded by advanced agricul¬ 
turists that the more work done on the land when in 
proper order to secure an ideal seed-bed, the better. 
Or if wheat follows potatoes, the amount of work done 
on the land while the crop is growing, and after it is 
harvested, up to wheat sowing, cannot be excessive. 
In preparing corn land for wheat, we adopt the 
same plan as much as possible. I think the plowing 
for corn should be done with a thought that wheat is 
also to be sown before the land is again plowed ; par¬ 
ticularly is this true if the clover sod has just been 
top-dressed with coarse stable or lot manure. The 
plowing should be done in such a manner as to place 
this manure between the furrow slices, rather than 
under them, in the bottom of the furrow. Then the 
corn will feed on it while in its coarser condition, and 
the wheat when it has become decayed and thoroughly 
incorporated in the soil. The capillarity of the soil 
destroyed by Fall or Winter plowing is completely 
established again by the time the wheat is sown. 
How Thorough Tillage Pays. —In the work in 
preparing the land for corn, I do not always stop with 
what may seem the demands of the corn, but often do 
much more, believing that it will benefit the wheat. 
In cultivating the corn, I do more work on the land 
than is the general custom, with the thought of aiding 
the wheat by liberating a more abundant supply of 
plant food. 
After the corn is in the shock, I first roll down the 
stubbles, then give the land a double working with 
the disk harrow, followed by the drag harrow, and 
then again roll, before drilling. The land gets, from 
the time it is plowed till the wheat is sown, often as 
high as 13 workings, seldom less than 10. While the 
greater number directly affect the corn, still all have 
influence on the growth of the wheat plant. I find 
one great difficulty in following corn with wheat, 
when the Fall is as dry as in 1895 and 1897. The corn, 
in maturing, so completely exhausts the soil moisture, 
that it is impossible, by any mechanical means, to 
secure a sufficient amount to sprout the wheat. 
Farmers that plow stubble, or prepare a seed-bed by 
the use of the disk and Cutaway harrows, can retain 
moisture to sprout the wheat, if they are judicious in 
handling the soil. In this one respect, they have the 
advantage of the farmer who follows corn with wheat. 
I have gone thus into detail because scores of farm¬ 
ers are in the same condition I was 15 years ago. 
Their crops do not average over 15 bushels per acre, 
year after year. They only hope, when they sow, that 
Providence will favor them with suitable weather, 
and give them a crop. Many have much better soil 
than mine, naturally, yet they regard wheat as the 
most uncertain of all crops. Still, by putting the land 
in proper condition, the wheat crop can be made as 
reliable as any. In the condition I now have my land, 
I feel as certaip. of securing a wheat crop, as any other 
crop I grow. Only twice in 15 years, extreme climatic 
conditions have destroyed my wheat. Hereafter, I ex¬ 
pect to use commercial fertilizer regularly on the 
wheat, as an aid to manures made on the farm, and I 
feel that I can gradually increase the yield. 
Ross County, O. JOHN m. .jamison. 
A TALK ABOUT GRASSES. 
THE VALUE OF SEED MIXTURES. 
Some Varieties Not Generally Used. 
[editorial correspondence.] 
Part II. 
There are small plots of nearly all of the common 
grasses, which are kept free from all other weeds or 
grass, to show the manner of growth of each. All 
these were sown late in April, 1897. The plot of 
Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) had been 
mowed twice already, and was again in head. It 
much resembles Timothj, but flowers much earlier, 
and thrives in all soils excepting dry sands or gravels, 
and grows most perfectly in strong, moist, rich soil. 
It is not a heavy grass for hay, but is particularly 
valuable as a permanent pasture grass, as it makes 
such an early, rapid growth, and is very heavy at the 
bottom. This grass must not be confounded with the 
annual weed grass called “ Foxtail” (Setaria glauca) 
so common in fields during the Summer and Fall. 
Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata).—The plot 
of this made a fine showing. It is considerably 
earlier than Timothy, and while it is generally con¬ 
sidered valuable for shady, moist places, it will suc¬ 
ceed in almost any location. It is not a good grass to 
sow in connection with Timothy, as it is so much 
earlier. One advantage of this earliness is that it 
may be cut before white daisies and other weeds have 
seeded. 
Sweet Scented Vernal (Anthoxanthum odora- 
tum) is an early grass, and not particularly valuable 
by itself; but on account of its delightful aroma, it 
gives a very pleasing odor to hay, and a small quantity 
of it mixed with other grasses is an advantage to have 
in a mixture. 
Texas Blue Grass (Poa arachnifera) is a valuable 
grass for the South, but the high price of its seed 
(§3 per lb ) will preclude its being sown to any extent. 
The trial plot was propagated by transplanting. It 
is excellent for dry places where other grasses will 
not grow. 
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa).—The plot of this showed 
up well. It is said that this clover depends largely 
upon the lime in the soil. The roots of this plot, 
probably went ten feet into the soil. I was told of a 
correspondent in Colorado who had a piece on the 
bank of a river which was undermined so that the 
bank caved off, and left roots which, by actual 
measurement, went down 30 feet to the water. A 
plant with such roots, it would seem, ought to stand 
almost anything in the way of climate. From seed 
sown April 28, in New Jersey, it grew to be 40 inches 
tall July 7, 70 days from sowing, and jdelded 7.3 tons 
green forage per acre. The second cutting, August 18, 
yielded 8.1 tons, and the third September 27, 4.6 tons, 
a total of 20 tons of green fodder per acre the first 
year sown, equal, probably, to five tons of dry hay. 
Bed Fescue (Festuca rubra), or as it is sometimes 
called, Creeping Fescue, is a very fine lawn grass, of 
a beautiful color, and stands wear and tear, it is said, 
better than almost any other grass known. It also 
endures drought exceedingly well, as the roots pene¬ 
trate deeply into the soil. 
Yellow Trefoil (Medicago lupulina).—The firm does 
not recommend sowing this clover, but has a plot of it to 
show. It is only an annual, is small and of little value, 
but seeds very freely, and is likely to become a trou¬ 
blesome weed. It is said that many tons of the seed 
of this plant are brought into the United States every 
year, yet not a pound of it is sold, that is under its 
own name. It is used largely for adulterating cheap 
grades of Red clover, and has become a terrible pest 
in many parts of the eastern States where people have 
unwittingly bought it with cheap closer seed. It sells 
at 2% to 3 cents per pound. After once gaining a 
foothold in the soil, only thorough cultivation will 
eradicate it. 
Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis) is one of the 
very best grasses for sowing in mixture on dry soils, 
both for hay and for pasture. 
Kentucky Blue Grass (Poa pratensis) is the great 
standby for lawns. It must have lime in the soil to 
do its best, and this is said to be the reason for its 
thriving as it does in Kentucky and other regions 
where the soil is of limestone formation. After the 
seed is once cut off, it will not throw another seed 
stem the same year, but produces an abundance of 
pasturage. 
Canada Blue Grass (Poa compressa) is inferior to 
Kentucky Blue grass, but the seed of the latter is 
often adulterated with that of the former, which is 
sold at half the price. 
Sheep’s Fescue (Festuca ovina) constitutes a large 
proportion of the hill sheep pastures of Scotland, is 
valuable on poor, light soils and hilly country, and 
succeeds on dry, rocky hillsides where no other grass 
will grow. It has a great mass of fibrous roots, and 
pasturing does not injure it in the least. It develops 
slowly, but is a strictly permanent grass when once 
established. It would prove a valuable grass to sow 
on the hills of New England for sheep raising. 
Fine-Leaved Sheep’s Fescue (Festuca tenuifolia) 
is similar to Sheep’s Fescue, excepting that the leaves 
are much finer. It is not recommended for hay or 
pasture, but is one of the most desirable grasses for 
lawns, forming as it does a turf of remarkable density 
and fineness. 
Awnless Bronie Grass (Bromus inermis) to which 
The R. N.-Y. has so often alluded, is a very permanent 
rapid-growing variety, producing heavy hay crops and 
good pasture, and will stand the most drought of any 
of the grass plants. It is rather coarse for a lawn 
grass, but for gravelly, sandy or thin soils where it is 
difficult to get other grasses started, it is invaluable. 
It is also said to be one of the hardiest grasses known, 
and the Hendersons say that they believe it will suc¬ 
ceed in a wider range of temperature than any other 
grass, having proved hardy throughout Canada, and 
valuable even in the southern Gulf States of America. 
At the Kansas Experiment Station, under trying con¬ 
ditions of drought, it proved the most desirable among 
700 varieties under test. 
\ arious-Leaved Fescue (Festuca heterophylla) 
is another very fine and showy grass, excellent for 
mixture for permanent pasture, especially on uplands. 
It is of a beautifully dark green color, but must be 
kept closely trimmed to make a good lawn. It is said 
that it is good for golf links, croquet grounds and the 
like, as no amount of treading will injure it. 
AN ood Meadow Grass (Poa nemoralis) is very 
similar to Kentucky Blue grass, but of a much darker 
green color, and is certainly a very attractive-looking 
grass. It is said to be the best lawn grass for shade. 
Sand or AA inter Vetch. —One plot contains this, 
which is excellent for dairymen to sow with AVinter 
rye for early Spring food. Rye for feeding purposes 
should never be sown alone, and dairymen make a 
great mistake in sowing it without this Winter vetch, 
as it not only adds to the bulk but grt atly improves the 
quality of the fodder. The vetch is remarkably hardy, 
and if sown in August or early in September, there is 
no danger of its winterkilling in this latitude, k. h. v. 
STRAWBERRIES RETARDED BY ICE. 
FIXE FRUIT IN AUGUST. 
An Interesting and Valuable Experiment. 
As I am especially interested in everything relating 
to the growing of strawberries, I was naturally very 
anxious to learn all about the experiment of retard¬ 
ing the ripening of the fruit by covering the bed with 
ice, which is being done by Mr. S. R. Divine, Sullivan 
County, N. Y. Mr. Divine wrote to me during the 
Winter giving me a little idea of his plan. “ Come up 
at any time and see for yourself what I am doing.” I 
was anxious to see just how the ice had been laid on 
the plants, in fact to examine everything as far as 
possible before the ice had commenced to melt away. 
Accordingly on April 14 I visited Mr. Divine. The ice 
was removed from a small portion of the bed, and the 
plants under this ice were examined and found to be 
in perfect condition. The leaves were green and fresh¬ 
looking. We found the ground entirely free from 
frost at this time. This he regarded as very import¬ 
ant. After this examination had been made, Mr. 
Divine felt very sanguine of success, and I certainly 
formed a more hopeful view of the experiment. 
At my request, Mr. Divine kept me well informed 
of the progress at the different stages of development 
of the .“iced strawberry plants.” July 22, I received 
by express from Mr. Divine a box of beautiful Mar¬ 
shall strawberries, followed by a letter inviting me to 
visit his place again. “The warm, humid weather 
hurries the strawberries in ripening; still I think I 
shall have an abundant picking until after August 15. 
There will be two crates gathered to-day.” 
The first thought that came to me after receiving 
this letter was, “Sixty-four quarts of strawberries 
gathered July 23 ! I must see this bed of fruit as soon 
as possible.” As I was ushered into the dining-room, 
the first thing that attracted my attention was a large 
dish of the Marshall strawberries. Several of the 
berries in this dish measured six inches in circumfer¬ 
ence, and the flavor was as good as any Marshall I had 
ever eaten. 
Strawberries for 10 Weeks. —I remained at 
Mr. Divine’s for two days, and had great dishes of 
strawberries for breakfast, dinner and supper. Mr. 
Divine remarked to me in an indifferent way, “ We 
