241 



freezes during the winter about a foot and half in 

 depth. When the sun resumes its vernal power, a 

 partial thaw of two inehes takes place in the course 

 of the day ; and owing to the porosity and hollow- 

 ness of the common wheat, the water is absorbed 

 in it. On the return of night, the ground is again 

 frozen, and then the expansive power of frost pro- 

 duces the destruction of the plant, by eradicating it, 

 or breaking the roots to pieces, and bursting the stalk 

 where the water has penetrated. Rye is not affected 

 in this way, because it is not so permeable by water, 

 and because its roots are stronger, more elastic, and 

 strike deeper into the earth. In like manner the 

 wild wheat of Oneida County is said to resist the 

 power of frost ; and this is imputed to the same 

 causes which protect the rye. 



As I am persuaded that the history which I have 

 given of this wheat is substantially correct, it pre- 

 sents a very interesting subject for investigation. Is 

 it indigenous, or was it originally imported wheat, 

 and accidentally conveyed to the places where it 

 was found? If the former, it is the very grain which 

 nature created for our soil and climate. If the lat- 

 ter, it has been evidently improved by its wild state 

 and spontaneous growth; — a circumstance of an 

 anomalous character, and contrary to the usual 

 course of nature. 



Although I am not prepared to give a decided 

 opinion on this subject, yet I may be permitted to 

 observe, that there are cogent arguments against 

 the latter hypothesis. The plant was found in a 



VOL. II. R 



