FAKMEKS' IXSTITUTES. 185 



the latter, in many cases, is no more than for the former. And most of us, 

 •'poor humanity that we are," have sufficient pride aside from the matter of 

 doUars and cents to prefer reaping a hirge crop rather than a small one. There 

 are two methods of sowing wheat in common use, but drilling it in is far prefera- 

 ble to sowing it broadcast. The use of the drill decreases the tendency to winter- 

 killing, because the wheat is all well covered and has a greater uniform depth, 

 and in using the drill it requires less seed per acre than when sown broadcast. 



There is no subject, however, on which there is more difference of opinion 

 among farmers than that of the amount of seed per acre for a successful c^'op 

 of wheat. In some cases a fine yield has resulted from sowing only one bushel 

 per acre. Again, two bushels have not been found more than sufficient, and 

 by way of experiment three, four, and five bushels have been used per acre, 

 with various results. It is safer to have too much seed in the ground rather 

 than too little, as there is then more prospect of a fair yield if the season should 

 chance to be a most unfavorable one for the wheat crop. It is but reasonable 

 to exoect that he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly. The quality of 

 the wheat sown is of the greatest importance. Farmers cannot be too careful 

 in sowing none but the very purest and cleanest seed, nor too particular in sow- 

 ing that which has not been attacked by any of the diseases to which wheat is 

 liable, such as mildew, smut, rust, etc. Wheat that has sprouted should never 

 be sown, as grown wheat will not produce a good yield of the best quality. 



But few of our farms, probablj", have ever yielded as much grain per acre as 

 they are capable of producing, and for this reason it is seldom that the extra 

 efforts are put forth which are necessary to secure a heavy return. The land 

 should be abundantly supplied with phosphoric acid, potash, and all the mate- 

 rials that enter into the grain and straw of wheat. 



A proper rotation of crops sliould be observed, as this materially contributes 

 to the success of every kind of grain. Wheat extracts quite different materials 

 from the soil than do green crops. And every farmer knows that it is not good 

 policy to continue soAviug wheat year after year in the same field, as the soil is 

 soon deprived of the particular ingredients which that plant absorbs. By a wise 

 rotation of crops, the soil is enabled to gather to itself certain properties while 

 being deprived of others. 



It is not of the first importance to sow wheat bearing the most popular name. 

 One kind takes the lead in one locality, while an entirely different variety is 

 more popular in another Tbe standard varieties in this locality are the Claw- 

 son, the Gold Medal, and the Delhi, while in another county the White, Flint, 

 and Canada Club were extensively sown last fall. All are excellent varieties, 

 and the failure of a bountiful harvest must be attributed to some other cause 

 rather than to the kind of wheat sown. 



Many farmers complain year after year of partial failures of their vrheat crop, 

 attributing their misfortunes to a drouth, or to too much rain, or to the insects, 

 or to tlie wheat being winter-killed — to any cause, to everything or anything, 

 rather than to want of care in performing their work. But it is well to remem- 

 ber that those very things to wliich poor success is attributed would not have 

 affected their fields in most cases if proper attention had been given to every 

 detail of their Avork, for disease, and insects and drouth more readily affect 

 poor, thin, unhealthy fields of wheat ; and we may say that slack farming often 

 invites the very evils we deplore. 



Enough might bo said, to form matter for another essay, of the diseases of 



31 



