158 [Senate 



dozen to about twenty ; but it is useless to recapitulate them, except 

 so far as to call them the white and the yellow, the smooth head and 

 the bearded. Whether the white wheat or the yellow, the smooth or 

 Jhe bearded is best, it is not now my province to determine. Pariicu- 

 lar varieties do best in particular locations, and of that each farmer 

 must judge for himself by his own observation and experience. If 

 he wishes to consult authorities on the subject, I would refer him to 

 a Prize Essay, for which a premium was awarded by the New- York 

 State Agricultural Society, to Rawson Harmon, of Wheatland, Mon- 

 roe county. His remarks are practical, and he gives the result of a 

 series of experiments in cultivating different varieties, to ascertain 

 which is the most productive, and in which he is still engaged. 



Wheat will not grow in a poor, grassy or weedy soil. It must have 

 clean land — rich land — carefully plowed, and be carefully covered. 

 It will not contend for the mastery with grass or weeds, but it will 

 have the whole or nothing ; and how easy it is to gratify it in these 

 particulars, as it conduces so materially to onr interest. Besides, 

 good farming requires it. There was a time in the district of country 

 in which I live, when all fields of wheat had more or less of rye, 

 cockle, chess, &c. Indeed it was thought it could not be raised with- 

 out these. But now the slovenly practice which then prevailed has 

 given way to its more cleanly culture, and if you will raise it, for 

 your credit's sake, if from no other consideration, grow wheat and 

 wheat alone. Still it is a precarious crop. But our country is so ex- 

 tensive, with a climate so varied, that although the demand for it is 

 so great, still we have almost always had an abundant supply. Lat- 

 terly in this section of country, except within the last two or three 

 years, it had the grain worm to contend with. This was a destructive 

 enemy, and for two or three years cut off entire crops. During its 

 ravages it was, however, noticed that its appearance was at a certain 

 time of the season, and that wheat that was forward on warm land 

 escaped it in whole or in part, while the later sown or backward was 

 often entirely cut off. To sow the last week in August was the remedy 

 proposed, so as to bring the wheat to as early maturity in the suc- 

 ceeding summer as possible. This was found the best plan to escape 

 the ravages of the grain worm. For two or three years, in conse- 

 quence I presume of early sowing, we were not visited by it ; still 

 this last season it has again been somewhat prevalent. The Hessian 

 fly is another enemy destructive of wheat. It appears and disappears 

 without any obvious cause ; but sowing after a frost is thought to de- 

 stroy it. There is, undoubtedly, much force in the suggestion. For 

 a more full and extended account of the insects which prey upon 

 wheat, and the diseases to which it is subject, I refer to a series of Es- 

 says on the insects injurious to the farmer and gardener, written by 

 the late Willis Gaylord, which received the premium of $50 from 

 the New- York State Agricultural Society. These Essays ought to be 

 in the hands of every farmer. He will at once see the number of in- 

 sects he has to contend with, and that prey upon his growing crops 

 and fruit, and derive practical lessons of their habits, and manner of 



