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Now if two bushels of good seed wheat to the acre, sowu on ground thus 

 prepared, early in September, and covered in with a light plough or cultivator, 

 will not bring a remunerating crop on almost any sufficiently dry land in Racine 

 county, then the failure must be attributed to other causes than defective soil 

 and bad tillage — causes that may be termed fortuitous, and that are as likely to 

 be operative in any other State or county as this. 



Diseases of the Wheat Crop. — Yet with every possible precaution, tho 

 wheat crop is subject to divers casualties, some of which can neither be foreseen 

 nor guarded against. The farmer consequently runs much hazard of beino- dis- 

 appointed, to a greater or less extent, every year, where he places too much 

 reliance upon that grain as his principal marketable product. 



Winter-kill may, in a good measure, be avoided by the process of subsoiling 

 just alluded to ; yet that remedy will sometimes fail. 



The Fit/ is a very troublesome enemy to the growing wheat; for which I 

 know no reliable antidote. 



The Hust is a disease dependent so wholly upon the condition of the atmos- 

 phere at a critical conjuncture in the formation of the berry of the wheat, that 

 neither skill nor care can effect much in the application of remedies. 



The '■'■Rot^'' or Blight, has proved very destructive to the wheat crop in this 

 region within three years past — affecting most fatally the "hedge-row" spring 

 wheat. It is a mysterious disease — almost as much so as the " rot" in the 

 potatoe; and is believed by some to be superinduced by atmospheric influences, 

 similar to those that cause the " rust." As yet, I have seen no i-emedy suggested. 

 This disease attacks the berry in the ear, (or head,) generally after it has attained 

 full size, but while yet in its milky state. Frequently one half the berries in a 



head will be affected, or wholly rotted, while the balance of the grain in that 

 head will remain sound and plump. 



Good Farming. — With a very superficial practical knowledge of agriculture, it 

 may appear presumptuous for me to attempt to instruct old farmers in regard to 

 Avhat constitutes good farming. Yet from a divei'sified reading, with habits of 

 investigation, and ample opportunities of observation, at home and abroad, I 

 may peradventure be enabled to state facts that are not familiar to all minds, 

 and that may not be devoid of interest to the curious inquirer after new truths 

 evolved from old subjects. 



There are certain things essential to be done, and rules to be observed, by 

 every cultivator of the soil, in the neglect of which he will incur the reputation 

 of a slovenly farmer; but to farm it wisely, judiciously, and profitably, in this 

 region, all must agree that extra attention is demanded to 



A Rotation of Crops, — Hitherto, crop after crop of wheat on the same 

 ground, has followed in annual succession for a series of years. Such a course 

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