209 



shearing festival, and was viewed by many practical farmers, who deci- 

 ded that the five bushel sowing was decidedly the best part of the field. 

 It is but right to mention that both crops turned out well, and were per- 

 fectly free from blight and mildew. 



From this circumstance, we can learn that it is safer to deposit too 

 much, than too little seed per acre. 



In the ne^v soils of America a much smaller quantity of seed may 

 be sufficient to stock the ground with plants, as tillering generally in- 

 creases the number of stems ; still the farmer who sows plenty of seed, 

 will come off much better than him who sows sparingly. 



Thinly sown wheat sometimes plants or tillers extensively, and some- 

 times produces a fine large head and plump grain, and under very fa- 

 vorable circumstances, may even excel thick crops, but the chances are 

 very much against that favorable result, as rust and mildew and numer- 

 ous insects seem anxious to destroy a thin, late ripening crop. 



It is a well known fact, that animals which have been poorly fed and 

 badly wintered, are subject to the attacks of a certain class of insects, 

 which render their condition still more wretched and miserable ; and it 

 is also true that thin, poor, badly cultivated wheat, is the favorite prey 

 of destructive insects and diseases. 



The grain of English wheat is generally larger and plumper than 

 the American varieties, and three bushels in this country, will furnish 

 nearly as many grains as four bushels in England. 



The quantity sufficient to seed an acre in Michigan, varies from 1^ 

 to 3 bushels, according to the state of the soil. 



IMPORTANT DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF AGRICULTURAL PLANTS. 



Every farmer should study the nature of the plants which he culti- 

 vates, the soil he tills, and the manure he applies in order to render that 

 soil fertile. 



The number of elements which exist in plants are said to be sixteen ; 

 of these, four are supplied by water and air, namely, carbon, hydrogen, 

 nitrogen and oxygen, and these form the greatest proportion of every 

 organic substance. The remaininn: elements must be derived from the 

 s6il in which the plant is cultivated. If the soil do not contain these 

 elements naturally, they must be supplied artificiall}', that is by ma- 

 nure. 



Every crop deprives the soil of a certain portion of inorganic ele- 

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