THE HESSIAN FLY. 



65 



first steins are weakened or destroyed, and so preserve the crop 

 from the autumn attack, while it is well known that on good soil 

 the spring brood is not half so destructive as its predecessor. 

 Tillering is largely increased by room, and limited by crowding. 

 Late tillering retards the ripening of the crop, increases the dan- 

 ger of rust and the midge, and deteriorates the quantity of the 

 grain. Fall seeding recovers the tendency to tiller by occupying 

 the ground, and thus hastens the maturity of the crop. 



112. The Chidham Wheat, introduced by the Secretary of the 

 N.Y.S.A. Society into America in 1851, and distributed by him 

 in various localities, fulfils the condition of ' tillering' to a re- 

 markable degree. " A remarkable feature in its character is its 

 great multiplicity of stalks, many of which were counted, aver- 

 aging from 50 to 60 to each stool."(^) Cultivation has a vast 

 deal to do with ' tillering,' so also has the variety of seed. This 

 property is of importance sufficient to merit careful and exact 

 enquiry into the best modes in which it may be made available. 

 Mr. Lauce, of Blackwater, Bagshot, England, obtained from one 

 seed, by subdivision and cultivation, 43,000 grains. 



113. In a Report furnished to the Patent Office, dated Feb- 

 ruary 5th, 1855, "on the seeds and cuttings recently introduced 

 into the United States." A variety of wheat from the central 

 part of France is highly recommended for trial. It is named 

 " Early Noe Wheat" (ble de I'lle de Noe) after M. de Noe, who 

 first introduced it into France, It is hardy and productive, has 

 the property of ripening some days before the common sorts. 

 It is generally known in the parts of France where it is cultivated 

 by the name of ' ble bleu.' This property of ripening early is 

 of immense advantage if coupled with a strong flinty stem, as 



(1) "W. R. Coppock, Esq., Black Rock, Erie Coiinty, N.Y. Trans. N.Y.S.A.S., 1853. 

 Mr. Miller, the curator of the Botanical Gardens at Cambridge, England, obtained, 

 by continued division of the growth of a single grain of wlieat, 500 plants which 

 yielded, by computation, 567,840 grains. 



