WHEAT GROWING.

Wananga, Volume 4, Issue 10, 17 March 1877, Page 93

WHEAT GROWING.

The following paper was read at the last meeting of the Cambridge Farmers Club, by Mr. John Fisher and published by our Waikato UNKNOWN Mr. Fisher said:- '• I have always ploughed twice, the :irst turn- ; :; \.r.ril or early in May. removing with the harrows as much" as possible of tiic rubbish, and cross-;.l< ughh; - 4'inches deep for the seed furrow hi June for winter, and early in August for spring wheat. Bv eariv there is less danger of the caterpillar injuring tie- 'emu ' as' hi ordinary seasons. The grain, wiif b ■• c,-.m:iienein g to harden before the pes* gats into full swing. ° 2sest to a clean seed bad, it is important to 'nave- good seed. I prefer spring to winder wheat. It is less time in the ground, ripens nearly a.-, soon as winter wheat, and I have found the average yield to be larger. As ft does not tiller so much, it requires mere s-■•--.i"t.<. the aerc. but the growth is more rapid, therefore m< :■..• o:V-- -tea", in keeping down weeds. T'ne time of sowing i: '.- a :.ow-r----ful influence in changing the nature , :' w'uear. as i'.v repeatedly growing at anv one s.-n....;. wln-at ,-, i;i ~ , <b v i... changed in its habits as regard- tl. ■ time of rip'-niu -. Wheat is liable to certain diseases, i f which smr.t is" < ne \ f the most common : a groat number <■:' preparations are recommended, for pr:-vent:ug this diseas •_ ':,;.;,..•,!,.. p.-hp'-among the si:rest. My practice h.is been :o :'..■.,■■ ;i,e wheat in a heap and to --v. rv b::.-1.. 1 . :" .'.'.■"•.; ~- pp.1 j <■■/.. of b] ties* one dissolved in ■.-.'. i :.■:•. at la r .; • < :" 'on*gallon to live bushel- ~f see :. turning o-.■■•:• •'. . : 1L ., ;; i until it 5s thoroughly Weil mixd : ; : ... gr.OP v> .:;; .\ i: . whole of the moisture, and be :--a,iv pr -owing in the course of two or three hours, and will Keen as long as if it had never been steeped at ail. It is eight'en rears a~o since I tried this plan, ami although mv e : -on< have nevT-.r : been entirely free from smut it has bee":: •■■'•..:':■.. '. t- an odd head here and there : and, as far as I have noticed. answers as well as the un re laborious one • f sp-epiug ; n tanks or casks. 1: has this great ah;vantage. ;n ■:'• i< m. danger of th.e wheat sprouting if the -owing i- ■ :■ laved by wot weather or other cam—a < if : - i; st I caa:a : sneak. as I have never been troubled bv it. Sowing hrea'lcast by hand requires some care to spread the seed eveuiv over the ground, not overlapping or leaving a. vacant "space between the casts. Th.e drill is graduahv c-mlug h.p" u-e i nthe neighborhood of Auckland. Bv 'ft th.e farmer is

/ cr.ao.eu to regulate the exact quantity of seed, to sow it ! equally au over the field, at a regular depth, to ensure it •; being properly covered, thereby securing it from the a.tacKs of the sparrow. Dibbling: and even transplanting are completed with the drill in the old B