Winter-proud

by some it [the wheat in the Weald]is considered to be too strong and forward, and therefore in danger of becoming winter proud

If winter wheat were all drilled by the 10th of September, the entire fall would be at the farmer's disposal for clearing the land and sowing spring crops early. The crop could not become winter-proud, or be laid by the summer rains. The harvest would be from two to three weeks earlier.