178 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



considerable quantities of this grain were grown, for clean culture 

 of the ground was not important, and the care after sowing, until 

 harvest, was comparatively nothing. In most places, except upon 

 the more elevated situations, frost was early, and occurred each 

 year, owing, no doubt, to the influence of the thick forests in pre- 

 venting a circulation of air and keeping off winds. For this reason 

 corn was but little planted, and wheat formed the leading and reli- 

 able crop. Wheat was then liable to the mildew or smut, and also 

 in some seasons to the rust. To remedy the latter evil it was 

 sown earlier, and to obviate the former the seed was soaked in a 

 solution of lime or ashes before being put into the ground. At 

 this time the average yield was about twenty bushels to the acre, 

 anjl considerable quantities were sold, much being shipped from 

 the Kennebec valley to Boston, and other Atlantic cities. The 

 price per bushel was usually eight shillings, ($1.34.) 



If I have been correctly informed, after the land had been cleared 

 of its original growth, old ground was sown to wheat, and for a 

 number of years the yield was good, but then began to diminish. 

 It was raised year after year, but farmers became discouraged from 

 repeated failures, and although now and then good crops were 

 obtained, yet its general culture began to go out of practice. The 

 Maine Legislature at the session of 1837, passed an act giving 

 two dollars bounty for the first 20 bushels of wheat raised by any 

 one farmer, and six cents for every bushel over. The object of 

 this act was to encourage the culture of this grain, and in many 

 respects it was successful, for a considerable sum of money was 

 paid out to farmers from the Treasury of the State, as a bounty on 

 wheat. 



The wheat midge, commonly called the weevil, made its first 

 appearance in the county about the year 1834 or 1835 ; and since 

 that time the general culture of wheat has been abandoned, 

 although some farmers have practiced sowing a small piece each 

 season, up to the present time. Tlie habits of this insect are so 

 well known, that 1 need not attempt a description here.* 



Winter wheat has been frequently raised, but not for some years. 

 Even when sown, its failure was, in most cases, owing to the drouth 



* Recent statements in the agricultural press, announce the appearance in some 

 parts of New YcM-k, nnil also in Canada, of the ichneumon fly, a " natural and 

 deadly enemy to the wheat mid.i^c." If this parasite is found to be a formidable 

 foe to its destructive enemy, its appearance and habitation in this country will 

 prove a great blessing. 



