468 ^ocs Wheat Turn to Chess ? October, 



cayed wlieat grains, and they were separated from the grains with- 

 out tearing, being merely in contact without any adhesion or con- 

 nection. Some of the more minute chess fibers were observed by an 

 achromatic microscope, to extend over the inner surface of the brau 

 where they had gone in search of nourishment, (which is known to 

 abound just within the bran,) in the same way that grape roots have 

 been observed to spread over the surface of a rich decaying bone. — 

 But they easily sejjarated, and had no connection with the grain. It 

 was satisfactorily proved that the chess plant could not have come 

 from these grains, by the fact that the same single stalk of chess 

 was thus connected with five or six difi'erent grains — which could no 

 more have originated it, than five or six cows can have one calf. — 

 This examination, therefore, did not prove anything in favor of 

 transmutation ; and as there were many possible ways in which the 

 chess might have become scattered On the soil, the whole experiment 

 was admitted by all parties to be inconclusive. 



The claimant is, however, perfectly " satisfied" that tbe wheat 

 turned to chess ; and he is also so well satisfied with the candor and 

 accuracy of the Committee, that he is confident he will yet convince 

 them of the fact of transmutation, as experiments, conducted by 

 them with great care, are to be performed under his direction an- 

 other year. — Genessee Farmer, 



An article from one of our correspondents on this mooted question 

 corresponds with our own views, and as it is a subject of interest to 

 many, we here give it place. — Ed. 



This notion, of wheat turning to chess, once so prevalent, has, if 

 I mistake not, lost many of its advocates since the days of better 

 farming have come, and I believe, will some day be entirely exploded. 

 It is a very convenient theory, though, to cover up the faults of 

 careless wheat culture ;. and many advocates of it will still, no doubt, 

 be found among those who will not take the trouble to fully test the 

 matter. Much time will be required to wholly disprove the theory. 

 The greater portion of wheat is full of chess, and considerable labor 

 is necessary to separate them. The fields, too, are full of it ; for 

 successive crops have fallen upon them, and it has often been sown 

 there. It is known to be a hardy plant, the seeds of which will 

 probably germinate after having Iain in the ground several years. — 

 That seeds of many varieties will thus lie in the ground for a long 

 period, and then send forth their plants, is an undisputed fact. For 



