314 



fly, and it could be sown and reaped earlier. He knew it 

 was objected to by millers here, but if cut before it was quite 

 ripe, it would yield as much flour as any other kind, and it 

 was excellent also. The white blue stem is liable to the red 

 rust, but this kind of rust is not very injurious. This wheat 

 will wait upon the farmer, for it does not shatter out much 

 when very ripe. Wheat ought, in his opinion, to be cut 

 when the dough is in rather a dry state. 



There was one subject he desired to refer to now, as some 

 members of the Legislature were present. A law ought to 

 be passed by which the amount of the products of the agricul- 

 ture of the State could be annually ascertained. The pro- 

 gress made, and in what direction, could then be yearly seen. 

 The assessors, he thought, ought to have power to take lists 

 of the number of acres under cultivation, and their product, 

 and also the number of each kinds of stock. As it is, we 

 cannot forsee an over production of any one thing. Besides 

 how do we stand under the census of 1850. They ear of 1849 

 was one of the worst wheat seasons in this State, and hence 

 it is that we are represented as producing but six and a half 

 millions of bushels of wheat. Under that wrong impression 

 we must remain for ten years. He believed from these con- 

 siderations that an annual census of our leading agricultural 

 productions ought to be made. Ohio has adopted this plan, 

 and its results are such that she would not now abandon it. 



Mr. BoUman said that on account of the heretofore inland 

 position of Monroe county, the culture of wheat had received 

 but little attention, with a large portion of its farmers. But 

 with the prospect of a railroad communication to market, 

 matters were rapidly changing. Heretofore a very slovenly 

 method had been generally pursued for putting in wheat. It 

 was ploughed in on corn land already exhausted ; the soil at 

 no time having been broken up more than three inches. Of 

 course complaints were made that wheat was very much 

 subject to freezing out in winter, and that the average yield 

 not being greater than 7^ bushels to the acre, would not re- 



