No. 63. J 255 



cultivated for several years, and then sown after corn, or on ground 

 not in good condition for a wheat c^rop. It was more hardy, and the 

 straw somewhat softer and more subject to fall down on strong soils 

 than the old red chaff. It was not subject to shell or scatter in har- 

 vesting, and was very hard to thresh with the flail, or to tread out with 

 horses, so much so that many objected to it on that account. On 

 the introduction of threshing machines, one objection to its cultiva- 

 tion was obviated, and after being sown some years the straw became 

 more stitT, and not as subject to fall down, and the heads are now 

 longer than when first introduced. It has now become the favorite 

 variety with most of the wheat growers where it has been introduced. 

 Its large white berry and very thin bran, makes it more valuable for 

 the millers than any other variety. It is a solid, heavy grain, and 

 tells well in the half bushel, frequently weighing sixty-four pounds 

 to the bushel. The yields from this variety are not as heavy per acre 

 as from some other varieties. When the seasons are the most favor- 

 able for heavy crops for a term of years, it wull produce more per 

 acre than any other variety cultivated in this section of country. It 

 is not uncommon for it to yield thirty or forty bushels per acre. 

 The Hessian fly has not been as destructive to it as to many other 

 varieties. Flour may be obtained from this wdieat that will com- 

 mand the highest price in market. Of late years it has become 

 much mixed with other varieties, so much so that it is seldom found 

 in its original purity. 



" Velvet Beard,'''' or " Crate Wheat^'' is an English variety, and 

 was introduced into western New-York about fifteen years since. 

 This is a red chaff, bearded, with red berry; it is a strong hardy va- 

 riety. The straw is large, with long, heavy heads, and long, stiff 

 beards. It is best adapted to strong soils, and has produced some 

 heavy crops; in one instance fifty-six bushels per acre. It has not 

 been very extensively cultivated; its long beards and red berry not 

 meeting with favor with the farmers. The bran is thick, and the 

 flour from this wheat is of a yellowish cast, of fair quality. 



" Indiana Wheat^ (by some called large flint,) was introduced into 

 this vicinity about the time that the velvet beard was, and has not 

 been very extensively cultivated. It much resembles the old red 

 chaflf in its growth and appearance, except that the chaff is white 

 and it shells more freely, and has the same objections existing ao-ainst 

 it. Within the last ten years there has been several new varieties 

 introduced into this vicinity. None as yet appear to succeed as well 

 as some of the old varieties, most of them not having proved hardy 

 enough for this climate. 



" Kentucky White Chaff',''^ bearded, better known in western New- 

 York, as ".Hutchinson," or " Bearded flint," or " Canada flint," is a 

 variety which was introduced by Mr. Hutchinson of Cayuga county 

 and has been very extensively distributed through this State. It is 

 a hardy variety, and is said to be three or four days earlier than the 

 flint. With me it has ripened at the same time under the same cul- 

 ture. The berry of this variety is short and plump, and as white as 

 the flint, the bran somewhat thicker, and it produces flour of a high 



