WHEAT. 



At the third of the series of Agricultural Meetings, held in Alba- 

 ny during the winter of 1844, the subject under discussion being the 

 culture of wheat in the southern tier of counties. Dr. D. Lee made, 

 substantially, the following remarks : 



Mr. President ; The question for investigation this evening, I be- 

 lieve to be this : " Is it practicable, and if so, will it be profitable, to 

 *' grow wheat south of the limestone strata that extend west to lake 

 ** Erie, through the central portion of this State ?" 



The soil in the region alluded to, is based on shale and freestone 

 rocks, and lacking lime, its sulphates and phosphates, it is but poorly 

 adapted to wheat culture. 



Practically then, the question to be solved is this : How much lime, 

 sulphur and phosphorus must be added to the shale and freestone 

 soils in the southern tier of counties, to make them good wheat lands, 

 and what will be the expense per acre 1 



If we take 100 lbs. of ripe wheat, including roots, stem and head, and 

 burn it in the open air, about 97 per cent of its weight will be con- 

 verted into vapor and gas, and escape into the atmosphere. The ash, 

 or 3 per cent left, will, on analysis, show the earthy elements neces- 

 sary to produce this grain. Liebig and Johnston both quote the fol- 

 lowing analysis, made by Sprengel, as entitled to confidence ; — 



Wheat Ash» 



Potash, 0.6 



Soda, 0.8 



Lime, 6.8 



Magnesia, . . , « 0.9 



Silica (flint,) 81.6 



Alumina, and oxide of iron, 2.6 



Phosphoric acid, , 4.8 



Sulphuric acid 1.0 



Chlorine, 0.9 



100.0 



When it is recollected that there is never more than three or four 

 per cent of the above earthy substances in wheat, and that silica 

 (sand) composes 81 .6 per cent of even that small portion, it will not 

 I trust, be deemed incredible if I express the opinion that, by the aid 



