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I was told of a crop in the summer of 1851 that was said to be per- 

 fectly free from chess, and it certainly required a very close examination 

 to detect a plant of chess in it ; in the same season a crop was grown on 

 the adjoining quarter section so foul, that when the plants came into ear, 

 the proportion of chess to wheat was so great that it was considered advis- 

 able to mow it green for foddder rather than let it ripen. The former was 

 the produce of wheat gleaned in the field, the latter was admitted to be 

 largely mixed with chess when sown. Apart from all theoretical consider- 

 ations, the result of my observations and experience here is, that Avheat 

 crops are pure and clean in proportion to the cleanness of the land, and 

 to the purity and cleanness of the seed when sown. If this be so, then 

 the obvious remedy for this evil is, first, to thoroughly clean the land, 

 and secondly, to obtain perfectly clean seed. I may venture to suggest, 

 whether we may not derive advantage in various ways by paying greater 

 attention to the purity and excellence of the seeds for our various crops — 

 for my own part, so far as regards wheat, I intend, by comparative ex- 

 periments, to determine which of the various kinds of wheat I can pro- 

 cure, is best adapted to the soil and climate, and then endeavor to raise a 

 pure crop by commencing Avith a single grain, or at all events with a 

 single ear, for not only is it a matter of consequence to rid our crops of 

 chess, but it is of some importance that a crop should consist of one 

 variety, for not only is there a difference in the productive powers and 

 quality of different varieties, but there is a difi'erence frequently of some 

 days in the periods of ripening, and a crop Avhich is a mixture of diflferent 

 varieties, some ripening sooner than others, cannot yield so well, or afford 

 so equal or so fair and heavy a sample as a pure crop, adapted to the 

 soil and climate. 



Although wheat has been cultivated from time immemorial by the 

 most civilized nations of the world, there yet appears to be many ques- 

 tions relating to the culture of the plant respecting which no very precise 

 or satisfactory knowledge exists. Experiments indeed remain to be made 

 on the wheat plant alone which would take a life time to determine. Who, 

 for instance, has proved what is the best mode of obtaining more produc- 

 tive and valuable varieties, whether by cross-breeding or judicious selec- 

 tion through successive generations ? or who can at present say where is 

 the limit to improvement in hardiness, quality, and productiveness ? — 

 Again, can an improved variety be continued pure and equally produc- 

 tive for an unlimited period when obtained, and if so, what are the like- 



