SECRETARY'S REPORT. 59 



appears to Lc in some measure our case. Stilf it is worthy 

 careful consideration and experiment, whether the cultivation of 

 wheat may not be in some sections largely increased with profit, 

 and also whether in others it may not be lessened to equal ad- 

 vanta£!;e. 



FROM S. W. COBUEX, ELOOMFIELD. 



" The cultivation of wheat is now increasing. The greatest of all 

 dangers to the wheat crop is the weevil. At firs c, tax-^ a.t:iu^^i.L _)v;aia 

 ago, people sowed early to avoid it ; when this failed, they sowed late, 

 as for a few years back, fifteenth, twentieth to twenty-fifth of May. 

 This has been partially successful, more or less, according to location. 

 An elevated location has been more successful than lowland, because 

 more wind to move the heads of grain to prevent the fly from resting 

 on them long enough to deposit the jly Mow. Much windy weather 

 about the time of flowering of the grain is very favorable to prevent 

 the deposit. Last year, the weather was fair at the time, windy, and 

 good crops of wheat were the result ; the same weather being favorable 

 also to prevent the rust, another enemy of the wheat crop, and one 

 far more likely to show itself in late crops ; so that to avoid the weevil 

 is only to make sure of the rust. This year, as intimated, we are get- 

 ting a hard touch, in some localities, of both. Wheat, naturally, fol- 

 lows corn, with grass seed. When parties are timid about wheat they 

 sow harlcy, a good seeder, and well adapted to ground in high tilth, 

 but it does not take the place of wheat in the family economy. Oats 

 would grow too heavy, and would not be favorable to the growth of 

 the young grass ; besides, but few soils will bear oats without gj^eat 

 detriment. The draft on the phosphates, which are likely to be scanty, 

 is, I think, a probable reason. Five years ago, winter wheat was some- 

 Avhat cultivated in this region, note, not at all. It was always early, 

 and consequently liable to a double damage, over spring wheat, of the 

 weevil ; and what would not have been thought likely, it was found 

 very liable to rust. A cold winter was dangerous ; a warm one also." 



FKOM JOHN S. MXJKCH. 



" The cultivation of wheat in the town of Dayton is thought to be 

 on the increase. The principal hindrances to its more general cultiva- 

 tion are the ravages of the weevil, cut-worm, and hessian fly. At- 

 tempts have been made to cultivate winter wheat, sometimes with 

 good, but more frequently with poor success. When it stands the 

 winter well it generally does better than summer wheat. One cause 

 of winter-killing is probably late sowing, though it sometimes does 

 well when sown late. I think it should be sown as early as August, 

 that it may get well rooted before winter." 



