290 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tbeni ill the full, and if we have none in the fall we shall have none in the 

 spritip:. If the surface of the ground is ricii and the cultivation perfect, and 

 we comply with the necessary conditions to give the plant the best possible 

 chance for a strong and rapid growth, large crops can be raised from late 

 sowing. 



In order to show tiie laws of nature in the growth of wheat, and the effect 

 of the ily upon it under diliercnt phases of its growth, I have taken some plants 

 from a Held where the cultivation was uniformly the same, and the wheat all 

 sown at the same time but at different depths. It was sown the 20th of Sep- 

 tember, and the fly commenced depositing nits the first of October. 



The seed of plant Xo. 1 was covered half an inch deep and contains insect 

 larvffi. No. 2, the same depth, uninjured by insects. In these plants we find 

 the roots are of equal strength, so also arc the tops, except the part No. 1, in- 

 jured by insects. No. 3 was covered about one and a half inches deep, and is 

 injured by the fly. No. 4, the same depth, injured by the fly. In these plants 

 we do not see a corresponding growth of roots and tops as in No. 1 and 2. We 

 also notice in No. 4 a double set of roots, which may be called the first and 

 second roots, or the germ roots proper. The germ roots, marked A in No. 4, 

 cease to grow as soon as the roots proper, B, are formed and begin to feed the 

 plant from near the surface, which is usually about two weeks after it is sown. 

 After this time the plant has two or three leaves and is the critical stage of the 

 plant's growth, and the condition of growth which the fly prefers to deposit its 

 nits upon, and when deposited at this time, as shown in that part of plant 3 

 marked B, the growth is effectually stopped, and in the efforts of nature to repair 

 the damage slie is obliged to form a new plant top, and universally begins this 

 new one at the point of germination, as shown in Nos. 3 and 5, at point A, and 

 no matter at wliat depth the seed may have been sown tiie new top must start 

 from this point. In No. 4 we liave a plant of equal disadvantages Avith No. 3, 

 except it is injured by the fly. The difference in the growth is very marked. 

 As a further illustration, we have prepared Nos. 5 and G and invite your atten- 

 tion to tliem. You will readily notice their puny growth, as compared with 

 Nos. 1 and 2 of same age and soil. The difference in vigor and size is due solely to 

 the difference in the depth of planting. In No. 5 you see the top is injured by 

 the fly, and nature at once begins to start a new one. The seed was sown about 

 three inches deep, and the new top. A, is starting from the point of germina- 

 tion is noticed in the preceding illustration. The new growth in this instance 

 would probably never amount to anytiiing, as the plant is ruined by the fly. 

 No. 5 is uninjured. Noticing again the difference of plant growtli between 

 these and our former samples, we will pass to a general resume of the plants, 

 arranging them in a growth. In examining this group it is a self-evident fact 

 that the roots which support the plants, formed at a uniform depth of about 

 one inch below the surface, provided the seed is placed at or below this point. 

 Plant No. 1 of this group shows the roots to be formed about half way be- 

 tween the root line and the surface, because the seed was deposited at this 

 point, and is a very strong plant compared with No. 4, where the germ line is 

 two or three inches deeper. 



Nature has designed a certain place for every plant to grow, according to its 

 elements of plant growth. Therefore it is evident that in so far as we depart 

 from tlie designs of nature in any of our modes of i-aising crops, in just such 

 degree will we fall sliort of perfection. Nature has certain laws in regard to 

 heat, light and moisture, which have the relative bearing upon the proper 



