328 [Senatk 



enter readily into a state of fermentation. Besides, the season prov- 

 ed particularly unfavorable, and the result was that neither the sod 

 nor the materials turned under, had undergone much change. Of 

 course the crop was not large. To secure the more effectual decom- 

 position of the sod, I concluded to plant it again the present season, 

 and with this expectation I gave it another dressing of strawy ma- 

 nure, and prepared the ground for planting. But owing to the back- 

 wardness of the season, and the situation of the field, which was low 

 and flat, the planting was deferred until it had become so late that I 

 feared to risk a corn crop, when I sowed it with wheat. 



The long manure applied the present season, was undoubtedly of 

 little or no service to the crop. It probably increased the growth of 

 straw, but at the same time induced a greater tendency to rust, and 

 very possibly diminished, to some extent, the yield of grain. Its 

 application to this crop, however, as will be remembered, was not 

 the result of system or intention, but of circumstances wholly acci- 

 dental. 



The wheat was sowed on the 20th of 5th month, (May). Previ- 

 ously to sowing, the ground was harrowed till the surface was ren- 

 dered even — a preparatory process which I consider of no small con- 

 sequence to the crop. I am aware that many farmers regard this 

 practice as altogether useless, and involving needless expense. But 

 I would almost as soon think of planting corn on greensward, with- 

 out plowing^ as of sowing any kind of grain on the furrow as it is 

 left by the plow. For my opinion on this subject, I have, as I think, 

 some very good reasons; but as most of them are given in another 

 paper which has already been presented to the Society on the culti- 

 vation of a crop of oats, I need not repeat them here. 



The variety of wheat sown, was the Tea or China wheat, and the 

 quantity, tw^o bushels to the acre. The seed was sown dry — without 

 having been subject to any washing or other preparatory process. 

 After sowing, the ground was harrowed and rolled; and as it had be- 

 come " lumpy" in some places, and the lumps were not yet broken 

 down, it was harrowed and rolled again. After the wheat w^as up, 

 the most of the field was plastered, partly with a view to benefit the 

 crop, but chiefly for the sake of experiment. The result, however, 

 showed no effect from the plaster. The growth of straw was good. 

 Standing thick, it did not grow very tall, nor lodge. But unfortu- 

 nately, during the time of its filling, the weather was exceedingly 

 wet and warm, and the crop was somewhat injured by rust. As this 

 kind of wheat has very justly acquired the character of withstanding 

 the rust better than other varieties, it is just to say that other fields 

 in the neighborhood, sowed with other varieties, and ripening at the 

 same time, were far more seriously injured, and some of them com- 

 paratively destroyed. 



The fly that works in the head, vulgarly called the Weevil, which 

 nearly ruined an adjoining crop belonging to my neighbor, and which 

 was sowed ten or twelve days earlier, did not affect this at all. It is 

 to avoid this enemy, that I sow my w^heat so late. 



It should be remarked that the wheat has not all been threshed, 



