No. 85.] 159 



extirpation, that will repay him a thousand fold for their expense and 

 perusal. 



By early sowing, the plant before winter has taken deep root, and 

 sent forth abundance of foliage ; the falling snow presses it to the 

 earth, and the roots are well protected against succeeding frosts and 

 winds. To feed off this foliage in the autumn I consider bad farm- 

 ing ; for, independent of maiming the plant, it removes part of the 

 covering it ought to have for its protection ; for how often do we hear 

 of wheat being winter killed by exposure ? I believe it likewise to 

 be an effectual remedy against the heaving of the plant in clay lands 

 from alternate thaws and frosts. The root having struck down deep, 

 and the ground and top of the plant being well covered, it is at least 

 good sense to infer that such would be the result ; and I must say 

 that my own experience confirms it. 



In the selection of seed for sowing, due care ought to be taken that 

 we have not only the best variety in use, but that it is all of one kind; 

 that it is perfectly clean ; that it weighs over sixty lbs. to the bushel, 

 and that the seed is large and plump. All these are material conside- 

 rations, and will have an effect not only on the growing crop, but 

 also on its ultimate value. Diseased wheat of any description ought 

 not to be sown. Many applications to prevent a future crop from 

 partaking of the evil have been suggested — such as liming, &c. There 

 is no doubt some efficacy in them, but the safest way to prevent mis- 

 chief from such sources is to sow none but the cleanest seed. Throw- 

 ing a heap of cleaned wheat from one end of the barn floor to the other — 

 called casting — is an excellent plan to collect for sowing the choicest ker- 

 nels. The largest, being the heaviest, are thrown farthest ; those of a 

 smaller size will not be thrown so far, while the lightest will sooner 

 drop to the floor. I make these suggestions as they have occurred to me 

 in relation to the culture of wheat. Perhaps there may not be in 

 them a single new idea that has not occurred to the intelligent farmers 

 before me, and been put to the test of experiment. Still my object 

 in the remarks I have made will be fully answered should they be the 

 means of drawing your attention to an investigation of this subject in 

 all its bearings. 



JEFFERSON COUNTY— MAJOR KIRBY'S REPORT. 



Extracts from the Report of E. Kirby, to the Jefferson County 



Agricultural Society : 



Some estimate may be formed of the importance of judicious selec- 

 tions of seed by referring to our recently harvested wheat crop. The 

 season has been propitious, and until just before harvest, the prospect 

 of a great crop was most flattering, but besides sustaining considera- 

 ble damage from rust, we have been assailed by a new enemy —the 

 grain worm, commonly called the weevil, which has committed great 

 ravages and combined with rust, has utterly destroyed many promising 



