398 WJieat and Wheat Culture. [September, 



as to kinds, we have experimented with about equal success the past 

 season with over forty different sorts of wheat, a tabular view of wliich 

 with remarks, etc., is appended to this article. But we say unhesi- 

 tatingly where the soil is any way suitable, choose a wheat with a 

 thin transparent bran in preference to a thick dark one. Wheat 

 with a light colored pellicle will bear a better price in any market 

 than one with a dark skin. Indeed the thickness of the pellicle may 

 generally be known by the color; the white wheats are uniformly 

 the thinnest. The white pirk or purkey for all kinds of soils is by 

 us deemed the best. 



The next point of importance we notice, and one also upon which 

 great contrariety exists is, as to the time of sowing. One thinks that 

 early sowed wheat is more subject to the fly ; another cares not so 

 much about the fly as the spouting out in the spring by alternate 

 freezing and thawing, and you cannot have it too early for him for 

 be wants his wheat well rooted, besides late sowed wheat is sure to 

 smut. Here we have (ironically speaking), most cogent reasoning 

 and that too supported by some of our agricultural papers, and we 

 presume it will continue to be so as longas men's experience difi'er so 

 widely, and the manner and extent of observation is such that the 

 true causes of failure or success are not the ones marked and appealed 

 to. Experience is uniformly in favor, all other things being equal, 

 of sowing fall wheat in this latitude during the month of September. 

 It may be sowed with success in October, but rarely later for the 

 simple reason that it should tiller and root well before winter, espe- 

 cially is this necessary where the cultivation generally adopted among 

 our farmers of plowing or harrowing in is pursued ; and here of this 

 practice of putting in wheat and of the proper depth at which wheat 

 should be sowed, we would say that these points are the subjects of 

 more of what logicians call logomachy (literally a war of words not 

 argument), than any other. 



And here as we will endeavor to show by argument, explained by 

 diagrams, that in common practice (if there is any such thing), all the 

 laws of vegetable growth and development are most clearly violated. 

 Where shall the seed be lodged ? Answer of the books and common 

 practice. 



Mr. A. Plow in your grain to the depth of from three to six 

 inches, otherwise it will winter kill. 



Mr. B. Plow first, then harrow it in with a good heavy harrow; if 

 necessary load your harrow. Mr. C. is captivated with the drill and 



