340 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERT. 



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all or the greater part of our species of wheat. He first sowed the 

 seed of the Ovata in the fall of 1838. In 1839, the plants grew to a 

 height of two feet, and ripened in the middle of July. The ears here 

 and there had one or two grains in them. The crop was five for one, 

 and the straw was brittle and thin. In 1840, the seed of 1839 pro- 

 duced ears more numerous, and generally each contained a couple of 

 grains of an appearance more like wheat. In 1841, the ears were 

 more like wheat, and each had from two to three grains. The figure 

 of the plant was almost like wheat. In 1842, the fourth year of his 

 experiments, the progress was not so sensible as in the previous year. 

 Many of the plants were attacked by rust. The stalks were like 

 -SEgilops. The ear gave two or three grains each. In 1843, the stalks 

 grew three feet high. In each ear was two or three well grown grains, 

 and the straw was stronger. The figure of the plant was like wheat. In 

 1844, all of the ears were filled. In 1845, the seventh year, the plants 

 had reached the condition of true wheat. These experiments were 

 made in an enclosure surrounded by high walls. There was no grass 

 inside of it, and no grain raised near the spot. In 1846, he sowed this 

 grain in a field broad cast, and continued in four years. In 1850, the 

 straw was full straight, over two feet high, and each ear contained 

 two or three dozen grains of perfect wheat. Thus a savage plant, 

 subject to cultivation, changed its entire figure and aspects, and grad- 

 ually assumed a new character. 



Among the recent French inventions, is one for " increasing the 

 produce of autumn wheat," patented by Mr. D'Urcle. The inventor 

 grounds his discovery upon the fact positively ascertained " by study 

 and repeated experiments" that autumn wheat is not an annual, but 

 biennial, like the beet-root and carrot class, and he therefore proceeds 

 to develop the alleged biennial properties by a novel plan of plant- 

 ing and treatment, for the increase of the produce. The ground is to 

 be well manured, either before winter or at the beginning of spring, 

 to receive the seed between the 20th of April and the 10th of May, 

 this time being chosen to prevent the chance of blossoming during the 

 year. But the time of sowing may be advanced from year to year ; 

 for, if it were not for the present degeneracy of the plant, it might 

 occur now in March. Each grain is sown separately, allowing it a 

 large area of ground if the soil is rich, but diminishing according to 

 its sterility. It is deposited in rows in holes at regular distances, from 

 9| to 23^ inches asunder, in each direction, the holes in one row 

 opposite the spaces in the next.' Each hole is to contain four or five 

 grains, 2 inches asunder. When the plants have attained a height 

 of four inches, all but the finest one in each group are pulled up, 

 and this single one is then left for the harvest of the succeeding 

 year. This curious process is stated to increase the produce very 

 greatly. 



CONSUMPTION OF TOBACCO. 



If the population of the earth be taken at 1000 millions, and the 

 consumption reckoned as equal to that of the kingdom of Denmark, 



