Report on Wheats, 393 



experiment as far as was practicable^ selecting", as had been agreed 

 upon at Liverpool, 16 perches from each variety, cutting it v/itli 

 the scythe, and accurately weighing the grain and straw. On the 

 2nd of August I marked out, as nearly as my eye could enable 

 me to judge, 16 perches of average equal growth and occupying 

 relatively similar positions in the field, from Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 

 6 white ; and from Nos. 1, 2, 4, and 5 red, similar quantities, 

 but, excepting No. 4, not in relative situations to the white wheats; 

 yet still, had the season been generally favourable, such 16 perches 

 as I estimated would have been fair samples of the produce of 

 these wheats. The white wheats, however, throughout appeared 

 better suited to my land than the reds ; and the result of the ex- 

 periment has convinced me that, in soil and climate similar to that 

 on and in which I have made the trials the growth of the former 

 should be encouraged rather than the latter. Before reaping, the 

 appearance of the different wheats was as follows : — Whites, 

 No. 2, third ; No. 3, fourth ; No. 4, first ; No. 5, third ; No. 6, 

 second: Reds, No. 1, third; No. 2, second; No. 4, first; No. 5, 

 fourth. For the reason before specified, viz. the almost total 

 destruction of the plant of No. 3, no portion of that wheat was 

 measured off for the experiment. 



On Friday the 5th of August I cut with the scythe the whites, 

 on the Monday the reds, and on the following Wednesday and 

 Thursday carted the respective lots. The subjoined table will 

 show you the results of the produce of wheat-straw and flour per 

 acre of each kind, estimated from the product of 16 perches of 

 each. I conceive, however, that, were the whole of the produce 

 of each sort to be thrashed out^ none of the crops would come up 

 to this average ; but the appearances of Nos. 4 and 6 white, and 

 No. 4 red, were generally good, and the tabular results would not at 

 most give 2 or 3 bushels per aci3 above their respective produce. 

 Every attempt, however, as far as the season permitted^ has been 

 made to carry out the experiment with perfect fairness. I con- 

 sider for the bulk of straw the yield of grain was extraordinary, 

 and the samples of wheat of each kind can scarcely be sur- 

 passed, subjected as they were merely to the usual dressing. 

 The miller declared that he had never ground better flour; but 

 stated that, if he had any preference, he should give it to No. 2 

 white, and No. 1 red. In the process of converting the flour into 

 bread, better than which I never have tasted, the plan recom- 

 mended by Colonel Le Couteur in vol. i. p. 115 of the Journal, 

 v/as adopted, viz. '^18 lbs. of the flour of each sort was placed 

 to rise or sponge over-night with | a pint of yeast and 2 quarts 

 of water. At nine o'clock the next morning 4 oz. of fine salt 

 were added, together with as much water, milk warm, as each kind 

 would imbibe to fit it for the oven, which was well worked up, 



VOL. III. 2 D 



