My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 323 There's a science to growing wheat
After entering the tenth month of the lunar calendar, the weather turned cold, and it rained lightly for several days at the beginning of the month.

Those who planted wheat early no longer needed to spend time watering it.

Those who were planning to plant wheat recently will have to wait a little longer.

Once the weather clears up and the fields are no longer so muddy, we can go into the fields then.

Chen Ling's family plans to continue growing wheat this year.

He didn't have any other ideas, nor was he aiming to get rich by growing wheat.

I was thinking of publicizing the yield per mu of my wheat next year, so that the villagers would know that my wheat yield is high and that I can harvest a lot of grain, and they would naturally come to borrow wheat seeds.

It's called borrowing wheat seeds, but it's not really free. You have to exchange a certain amount of wheat seeds for a certain amount of seeds.

Therefore, people in the village do not expect to make money by selling grain seeds.

Seed stations and veterinarians are not there to make money.

If you want to make money from seeds, you have to take it slow.

On the tenth day of the tenth lunar month, the weather was fine, and it was time to go to the fields to plant wheat.

Chen Ling originally planned to buy the tractor first and use the machine for sowing this year to save some trouble. However, when he was drinking with Han Chuang a couple of days ago, Han Chuang said that it was best not to buy the current seeders. They still had the same old problems as before: either they didn't produce any seeds, or they produced too many seeds. There wasn't much improvement.

You can buy a tractor if you want, but forget about a seeder.

Many people in Huangni Town have bought seeders, but now they're all sitting idle, lying in the corner of their yards like iron turtles to ward off evil spirits.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling abandoned the idea of ​​buying a seeder now.

He originally thought that only the corn planting machines were not up to par, but he didn't expect that the wheat planters were also lacking.

"Actually, those machines plant crops just like the seed drills we use here. Whether it's wheat or beans, you have to shake the seed drill."

"We shake the seed drill by hand, while the seed planter is shaken by a machine."

Wang Lixian squatted outside the orchard, rolling a cigarette, and said, "When I was working in Kuliu County, I saw that thing. It has an iron trough on top, like a pig trough, rectangular with four corners. Below the trough are rows of small funnels. When you turn on the machine, these rows shake back and forth, and the wheat seeds leak down through the holes in the funnels."

"After the wheat seeds are released, there are rows of round iron discs under the machine that dig furrows in the field. They make the furrows very smooth, but the machine is quite prone to breaking down."

Wang Lixian's statement is somewhat one-sided.

After all, no one here has ever used this seeder before, and it's used even less in the smaller plots to the west, so no one really knows about it.

After Han Chuang's explanation, Chen Ling learned that the biggest drawback of this machine was not its tendency to break down.

However, after planting wheat, it is impossible to guarantee that the seeds are planted at a uniform depth, and the seedlings cannot emerge evenly.

It's not as good as the old-fashioned seed drill.

In fact, after careful recollection, Chen Ling realized that before 2005, seeders were not very easy to use.

I remember when I went back to the countryside during the busy farming season, some men would squat on the planter and press down hard on it so that the machine could penetrate the soil deeper and plant the wheat seeds deeper.

Not only that, but it also prevents the seed trays of the seeder from being blocked by grain seeds, ensuring that the grain seeds are evenly distributed from each tray.

While stepping on it, you also need to constantly use your hands to move the wheat seeds in the iron trough back and forth and spread them out.

Otherwise, if some silos release seeds quickly while others release them slowly, the wheat seeds in the iron troughs will be uneven in thickness and bumpy, which will be easy to see.

"So, our seed drill is still the best."

"Yes, our seed drill is definitely the best. Once you get used to it, it's much easier to plant."

"What? Go and call Jusheng and the others over, let's plant them here first."

"No, I have twenty acres here, plenty of land. Let me help you plant them first, then we can talk about mine."

Chen Ling shook his head. Actually, he was least afraid of doing this kind of physical labor, and farming was by no means an easy job.

Even after technology advanced and seeders stopped having problems,

In an hour, only about four acres can be sown.

This doesn't even include the time spent before going to the fields, such as chopping straw, tilling, preparing fertilizer, and preparing wheat seeds.

This is still fully mechanized.

Even if we really only cultivate four acres of land.

Once you get busy, the day is over.

Now, let alone those without mechanization.

Let's start with those families who have less land.

"That works too. Do whatever you say."

Wang Lixian patted his bottom and stood up. He and Wang Jusheng's families didn't grow wheat on all their land.

The three families got busy and didn't slow down at all.

Chen Ling thought that since Wang Lixian was here, he should go and plant the wheat seeds for him first.

So he called out the little white calf, picked up the seed drill, and headed straight for Wang Lixian's field.

Wang Lixian then went to the village to call Wang Jusheng.

"Let Jusheng bring his seed drill too, so the three of us can go to the field together to sow the wheat. That way it will be faster."

Chen Ling put down the seed drill, still calling out to it.

Wang Lixian turned around and smiled: "That's exactly what I was planning. Since Erni'er's donkey is here, we can just lead Lihui's donkey too, and then we won't need anyone to pull the seed drill..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling clapped his hands and said, "That's great, it saves us from having to borrow livestock from other people."

Except for the furrow opener at the bottom, the entire part of the seed drill is made of wood, and an average adult can carry it.

However, when planting wheat in the fields, livestock are needed to pull it.

If there are no livestock, then three to five people have to pull the rope and pull the seed drill in front.

There's nothing we can do about it; it was like this before it was fully mechanized.

Moreover, they have a seed drill to use for planting wheat. In other places, wheat can't be grown, but rice can. There are no rice transplanters now, so it's much more tiring than here.

……

Soon, the Wang Lixian family and the Wang Jusheng family arrived.

During busy farming seasons, adults and children alike come to the fields, whether it's sowing or harvesting.

Because this is not only their food supply for the coming year, but also their very means of survival.

Growing up in the countryside, people naturally value it.

After a while, Wang Susu also came over carrying the child.

Even if they can't do the work, they're still willing to come and watch over things.

"Fugui, will you drive the seed drill? Or you can lead the ox in front and I'll drive the seed drill from behind."

Wang Lixian looked at Chen Ling's little white calf and felt a bit overwhelmed; no one else could command his calf.

When using livestock to sow wheat, someone needs to lead the livestock, a practice commonly known as "helping with the sowing."

Don't think it's troublesome.

This person who "helps with the seed drill" controls the speed at which the wheat is sown. Whether the advance is fast or slow, and whether the seed drill penetrates the soil deeply or shallowly, all depend on him.

Moreover, when starting to plant wheat, one should neither walk in front of the livestock nor behind them, but walk at the same level as the livestock, keeping a close eye on them and adjusting the pace accordingly.

When it's time to turn, you have to turn in time.

This requires the person to understand the habits of livestock and to be able to control them.

“Brother Xian, it’s no use talking to Fugui about this. He probably thinks his ox doesn’t need help with the seed drill, so he’s standing behind it all by himself, ready to shake the seed drill.”

"Hey, you really know me, Brother Jusheng! That's exactly what I'm thinking."

Chen Ling gave him a thumbs up. With such a smart ox, there was naturally no need for someone to watch over it and help with the plowing.

"See, I was right."

Wang Jusheng raised his eyebrows smugly, making a group of children giggle.

Wang Lixian frowned: "Is it okay to let the ox walk ahead by itself, Fugui?"

"Don't worry, my ox is very obedient. I did it this way in the spring. Let me show you how it goes." Chen Ling didn't put wheat seeds in the seed drill, but just left it empty in the field, put the seed drill on, and called out to the little white ox to walk forward.

As the little white calf slowly began to walk forward, Chen Ling began to gently rock the seed drill.

It looks pretty convincing.

When he returned after circling around, everyone was relieved to see that the little white ox could go fast or slow as instructed, and could turn corners as required.

"Come on, let's load the wheat seeds. Today we're all experts at seed drills."

Wang Jusheng called out, and the three of them picked up wooden buckets and filled the seed drill with wheat seeds.

The person who uses a seed drill is also called a "seer," and the "seer" means skill or expertise. In the past, this skill was highly respected.

A good seed drill will produce wheat that grows straight and neat rows and ridges.

Wheat seedlings emerge evenly with moderate spacing between them, providing them with adequate growing space and resulting in a good yield.

In the past, skilled practitioners would even have people from other villages come to learn from them in person.

It's very prestigious.

"Haha, since we're both skilled, let's have a competition to see who can grow the best seedlings."

Chen Ling and the other two chatted and laughed as they loaded the wheat seeds into the seed drill and divided Wang Lixian's land into three sections, where they began planting.

It was a competition, but it wasn't a joke; everyone took it very seriously.

As oxen and donkeys slowly pull the seed drill in the field, the wheat seeds fall into the soil along the drill, also known as the furrow opener.

Chen Ling enjoyed watching this scene. As he watched the wheat seeds being buried in the soil, he felt a sense of joy.

There's a science to growing wheat.

Even shaking a seed drill requires care.

The timing during this period is difficult to control; it all depends on the skill of the seed drill operator.

When the soil is dry and has little moisture, the seed drill needs to be placed deeper.

At this point, you have to use your hands to press down and push forward, which is a forward and downward force, and it can be very tiring.

Fortunately, it rained a few days ago, so the soil is now relatively moist and loose.

At this point, the seed drill can be placed shallower.

The person operating the seed drill needs to lift the drill bit slightly upwards so that the seed drill bit penetrates the soil shallower.

However, even if the soil is shallow and the seed drill is easy to shake, one should not be careless.

The speed at which the seed drill moves and the force with which it shakes the seed drill will all affect the wheat planting process.

If you walk quickly, you stay in one place for a relatively short time, so you miss fewer wheat seeds, and the wheat seedlings grow sparsely.

If you walk slowly and stay in one place for a relatively long time, you will naturally miss more wheat seeds, and the wheat seedlings will grow densely.

The same principle applies to the force and speed used when shaking a seed drill.

If you shake it too hard, more wheat seeds will leak out; if you shake it too lightly, fewer wheat seeds will leak out.

Others might find it troublesome and tiring.

Chen Ling, however, really enjoyed doing this kind of work. He felt that once he started working seriously, his mind and body would calm down, so he was very focused on the seed drill.

Listen to the clear, ringing sound of the bells on the livestock.

A group of little children were running around him and behind him, and Wang Susu was also carrying a child as she walked with him.

He would only feel happy and enjoy himself, so he wouldn't feel tired at all.

After finishing with Wang Lixian's family and then Wang Jusheng's family, it was finally their turn to take care of their own family.

When the three families got busy, it was true that many hands make light work. Later, when Chen Ling's family was planting wheat, Wang Cunye joined in, and Han Chuang also came to help.

But it took all three families half a month to finish planting the wheat.

Chen Ling didn't do much else after returning, and the tenth month of the lunar calendar was almost over.

No wonder that after the seeders were optimized and improved, not many people were willing to work in the fields anymore.

This guy's farming methods are so primitive, they're tiring and time-consuming.

"Unfortunately, only foreign seeders are usable now, and you can't buy them even if you want to."

Chen Ling thought about it and realized that the agricultural machinery from the US and Germany was already very advanced at this time, but it was difficult to obtain and they were unwilling to sell it to him.

"There's no other way, I'll just have to buy a tractor and a plow first. At least plowing will be easier. I'm not afraid of being tired, but if there's a lot of land, it will take too long."

……

The wheat has been sown, there's no rush to buy a tractor.

In a few days, once November arrives, my father-in-law and mother-in-law will be returning to Fenglei Town.

These past few days, apart from picking up and dropping off his sister-in-law, Chen Ling hasn't gone far. He wants his parents to spend more time with their eldest grandson, so he's prepared some food for them, such as cured meat, dried pheasant, rabbit, and squirrel meat, as well as medicinal wine, all of which they can take with them when they arrive.

The child is still young, and the road is far, so I still can't take the child with me for the Spring Festival this year. I can only bring more food and drinks for my parents.

At worst, we can bring their whole family over for a reunion after the New Year, celebrate the Lantern Festival, and go to temple fairs or something.

"It's getting cold. The red-crowned cranes have flown away, and the wild geese have flown away too. Another winter is coming soon."

After having breakfast that day, Chen Ling went up the mountain to collect eggs with a basket on his shoulder. He found that the morning sun was no longer very hot, and walking on the mountain in late autumn, he even felt a little cold.

Actually, the red-crowned cranes flew away when we first started getting busy planting wheat.

They walked away at dusk with the cranes in the wetlands.

When it left that evening, it circled over the farm for quite a while, constantly crowing its neck and calling out.

I guess they were reluctant to leave this beautiful place and the delicious fish.

With their memory and wisdom.

Given this move, they might even fly over again next fall.

"The pheasant has grown up. There's no use keeping this rooster. We'll stew it in a couple of days."

Chen Ling looked at the half-grown pheasant running behind the mother hen among the flock of chickens, its long, thin legs carrying it, and thought to himself.

These chicks include both native and wild chickens; they were caught from a chicken coop that Little Fatty and his friends found at school.

Nobody in the village wanted it back then, so they just threw it into the flock of chickens and left it alone. Now look at it, it's growing quite well.

Besides these, there were also the baby wild chickens that Chun Shang, Heiwa, and Xiao Jin caught. They had all grown up by now, and the mother pheasants had started laying eggs.

There's no point in keeping too many roosters; just eat them when you can.

Anyway, the pheasants raised at home are definitely tastier than the wild pheasants that roam around in the wild.

After collecting some eggs on the mountain and looking around, finding nothing amiss, he entered the cave from the back of the mountain.

I'm going to the cave to check if there have been any changes to the ornamental fish I released into the lotus pond.

This unexpected sight gave him a pleasant surprise.

"Good heavens, after raising them in the cave for a month, not only have they produced fish fry, but the lionhead and dragoneye fish have even become more beautiful!"

He didn't buy the most expensive ornamental fish, especially the goldfish.

You get what you pay for.

Inexpensive ornamental fish will naturally have flaws in appearance.

Especially among various types of goldfish, the flaws are particularly noticeable compared to koi.

However, after being nurtured in the cave for a month, those flaws disappeared, and each one became more and more beautiful.

"I just wanted to breed offspring, I didn't expect it could also make up for my deficiencies. This is great, I can raise fish when I have nothing to do next year."

Chen Ling was overjoyed, but he still didn't know if he could eliminate the goldfish's defect simply by using spiritual water after leaving the cave.

If possible, move them outside and raise them in the lotus pond and irrigation canals of the farm.

If this guy succeeds, he'll be one step closer to getting on a bus.

(End of this chapter)