CULTIVATION OF WHEAT.

Wheat has been cultivated as an article of domestic use, and of commerce, as far back in the dim past as history extends its researches. As a market product and medium of exchange, it holds an important place, when taken in connection with all the other products of farm labor. Our soil and climate are admirably adapted to its growth. Our white wheat, and the flour manufactured from it, for excellence of quality, stands in the great marts of the world the equal of any. It has a reputation which may well constitute the farmer's pride. Our marketing facilities are unsurpassed.

We easily perceive then, that, with our advantages of soil and climate, and our access to the best markets of the world, the cultivation of wheat presents a question of grave importance to the farmers of this county-perhaps only equalled by the consideration as to how our present average production shall be maintained and increased, and the soil preserved from that exhaustion which has befallen many portions of the Atlantic States, formerly the great wheat producing States of the Union.

It has been impossible for me to obtain and present such full and accurate statistics, in regard to the wheat crop in this county since its organization, as will show the annual product per acre. In 1840, with a population of 10,599, we produced 176,630 bushels of wheat, and 140,971 bushels of corn, of the aggregate value of about $140,000-or $14 for each inhabitant. In 1845, with a population of 15,595, we produced about 280,000 bushels of wheat, and nearly the same quantity of corn. In 1850, with a population of 19,162, we produced 385,959 bushels of wheat, and 327,544 bushels of corn, of the aggregate value of $298,084 20. In 1854, with a population of 22,768, we produced 480,649 bushels of wheat, which was grown upon 39,000 acres, the average being about 12 1-3 bushels In 1860, with a population of 29,368, we produced 692,804 bushels of wheat, and 612,109 bushels of corn. In 1864, with a population of 30,486, we produced 835,583 bushels of wheat, on 56,492 acres of land, or an average of 14 8-10 bushels per

per acre,

acre (nearly), and 528,338 bushels of corn on 19,118 acres, the crop having been injured badly by the frost of August.

The aggregate value of the wheat and corn crops of 1863, did not fall far short of $1,500,000, which with the probable value of the wool just marketed ($500,000), will make the grand aggregate for these three great staples, of $2,000,000, or an average product per inhabitant of about $64, which certainly compares favorably with the average in 1840.

These statistics lose somewhat of their value, because we cannot get the annual average per acre, except for the years 1854 and 1864, which enables us to determine, that the average of the latter crop execeeded that of the former by 21 bushels per acre. We therefore assume for this occasion, as we believe the facts warrant, that this increased average resulted from improved cultivation, and not from accident.

But, it is submitted, that the farmers of this county, and members of this society should never remain content until their average crop shall reach at least 20 bushels per acre, weighing 64 lbs. per bushel. It is well known that very many members of our society, have for some years past, produced an average crop of 20 bushels per acre, but this only the more distinctly demonstrates the fact that another, equally as large a body of our farming community, produce much less than the average, and consequently are laboring for very inadequate compensation. It is for the benefit of this class that our exertions as a society should be directed. There is not a rational doubt that intelligent labor, applied to the cultivation of wheat, will enable our farmers to grow an average crop of 20 bushels per acre, and keep their lands oonstantly increasing in fer ility. By intelligent labor, is meant labor guided by experience and close observation, controlled by the exercise of sound judg ment and skill in adapting crops to soil, and such rotations in cropping as shall keep the land constantly enriched. It includes, also, system, without which no one can hope for continued success in the business of farming, any more than in the most intricate business pursued.

The object with the farmer must not be so much the quantity of land cropped, as how he can succeed in producing five bushels of wheat and twenty bushels of corn per acre more than the last year, and what system of cropping he shall adopt to increase the natural productiveness of his land. These are questions which we must ponder well and decide wisely, or our children shall succeed only to a worn-out heritage.

Wheat requires deep, clean tillage. When the fallow is employed, the plowing should be deep and thorough - 8 to 10 inches, and well turned. The object of fallow cultivation is threefold: 1st. To increase the depth of soil available for the growth of the crop.

2d. The complete pulverization and mingling of the elements of the soil.

3d. The utter destruction of weeds or grass. Upon our loamy and sandy-loam soils, once plowing is found, ordinarily, to be best, leaving the after preparation for the harrow and cultiva tor, or gang plow.

Both experience and observation show, most conclusively, that the proper office of the harrow is very imperfectly understood, and not at all appreciated by large numbers of our farmers. To be effective, it ought to follow close after the plow, and not with the simple object of levelling the surface, but it should be repeated as often as is necessary to produce a thorough pulverization of the soil. Of course, the harrow must be followed by the cultivator or gang plow often enough to subdue all weeds or grass.

If barn-yard manure, or a large growth of clover is to be turned under, the plowing should be as early as possible, and the crop will be greatly benfited by the immediate use of the roller and the harrow. This treatment will close up the surface, and promote rapid fermentation and decomposition.

If wheat is to be sown after corn, and the soil has been thoroughly fitted for the crop and properly cultivated, (and no others should be sown), the plowing should be shallow, always bearing in mind the well-known fact that wheat thrives best,

reaches the greatest perfection, and yields best upon a compact soil, and that a crop is often fatally injured, if not lost, by too great looseness of the soil.

Every farmer will convince himself of this fact, by observing his head-lands, or spots where cattle and sheep have trampled the earth so hard as to make it difficult to properly cover the seed.

With a stiff, tenacious clay, of which we have but very little in this county, a different mode of cultivation, where the plow and harrow, by repeated use, must do the work of pulverizing and fitting the soil for the seed, must be adopted.

Second in importance, is the choice and preparation of seed. Too little attention is bestowed upon this part of the crop. It is not possible, within the limits assigned to this essay, to discuss the questions affecting the comparative value of the numerous varieties of wheat, which climate, soil and cultivation have produced. The object of the farmer should be, to ascertain the kind of wheat best adapted to his soil, and then seek to improve it with the same care he does his flock of sheep, his swine, or his cattle.

To this end every farmer should prepare a few acres, with especial reference to his seed; it should be manured and fitted with as much care as the plats in his garden. He should carefully remove by hand every spire of chess, or cockle, and when the crop is fully ripe, should cut and secure it in the barn separate from his general crop. The seed should be threshed with a flail or with horses, and not with a machine, cleaned perfectly, and dressed with lime, or strong brine, before being sown.

Seed prepared by this process, will produce a strong and vigorous plant, which will successfully defy drought, insects, or the frosts of winter, when sown on properly prepared soil.

It would require altogether too much time to attempt an argument as to the best manner of applying manure to a wheat crop. It has been generally held best to spread it upon the fallow and turn it under by the plow; but some recent experiments in top-dressing have resulted in astonishing success.

It

is the part of wisdom to try both, for a series of years. A wellconducted series of experiments will determine this question, and be worth more than all the speculation that can be offered.

There are two modes of sowing wheat practiced in this country -broadcast and drill. The condition of the land-new, stony, rough and stumpy land-make broadcast-seeding the only practicable way; but experience and cbservation teach that, when the drill can be used, it is both wisdom and economy to employ it, Reason affirms what observation teaches to be true, in this respect.

Experiments have been made, which proved satisfactorily, that wheat geminates best when buried at the average depth of one to two inches; that of seed buried less than one inch, and more than two inches, less than one-half germinates, while of that buried between one and two inches seven-eights grew.

Another strong reason for the use of the drill arises from the nature of the growth of the plant itself. Wheat, in its growth from the seed, forms three kinds or systems of root, two of which perform the important part in maturing the crop. The first is, the germinal or tap root, which proceeds from the germ of the seed, whose office is to fix the plant in the soil and yield it support until the side or coronal roots are formed. The second system of roots, when the seed is properly buried, forra just beneath the surface of the ground, and are the chief channels of the nourishment, upon which the future growth and perfection of the plant depends. Upon the strength and vigor of these roots, depend the strength and vigor of the future plant. When wheat is sown broadcast, these side, or coronal roots, lie near to the surface, and are thus exposed to the hostile action of the frost. They are not only liable to be broken and sundered by the frequent freezing and thawing of early spring, but often are wholly exposed by the dry cold winds of March and April, and in either case the plant is shorn of its strengthit can only struggle along and live--without the power to promote the important process of tillering and spreading, and thus a short crop is the result.