WHEAT GROWING.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 64, 30 May 1877, Page 3

WHEAT GROWING.

The following paper was. read at the last meeting of the Cambridge Farmer's Glub, by Mr John Fisher, and published by our Waikato, contemporary : Mr Fisher said :— " I have always ploughed twice, -the first time m April or early m. May, removing with the harrows as much as possibleof the rubbish, and cross-ploughing about 4J inches deep for the seed furrow m June for winter, and early m August for spring wheat. By sowing early there is less danger of the caterpilla. injuring the crop as m ordinary seasonsr The grain, too, will be commencing to harden before the pest- gets into full swing. ' . . Next to a clean seed bed, it is important to hate good seed. I prefer spring to winter wheat. It is less time m the ground, ripens nearly as soon as winter wheat, and I have found the average yield id be larger. As it does not tiller so much, it requires more seed to the acre, but the growth is more rapid 1 , therefore more effectual m keeping down ■weeds. The time of sowing has_a powerful influence m changing the nature of wheat, as by repeatedly growing at any! one. season wheat can easily be changed m its habits as regards the time of ripening. "Wheat is liable to certain diseases, of which smut, is one of the most common; a great number of preparations are recommended, for prevent? ing this disease, bluestone being- among the surest. My practice has -been to place the wheat m a heap and to every bushel of wheat apply 1| oz. of bluestone, dissolved m water, at. the rate of one gallon to five bushels of seed,. ■ turning over the heap until it is thoroughly well mixed ; the grain will absorb the whole of the moisture, and be ready for sowing m the course of two or three hours, and will keep" as long as if it had never .been steeped at all. It is/eighteen years ago since I tried this plan, and although my crops have never been entirely free from smut it has been • confined to an odd head here andthere ; and, as far as I have noticed, answers as wellas the more laborious one of steeping m tanks, or ,;casks. 1? ,It ; has t this great advantage,; : tkere' is no danger; of wheat sprouting if the sowing, is de- ; layed by; wet /Weather /0r..-' other cause. Of rust I;cannoi speak, as I havernever been troubled by it? Sowing broadcast by hand requires some care to spread 'the seed evenly over the ground, not overlapping or leaving a vacant space, betweenthe casts. The drill is gradually coming into use m the neighborhood of Auckland. By it the farmer is enabled to regulate the exact quantity of seed, to sow it equally all^ over the afield; at a regular depth, to ensure-, it being properly covered, thereby securing it from the attacks of the sparrbwi Dibbling and even transplanting are completed with the drill ia the old.couiitryi .