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surrounded by water, having much to do with the general exemption of winter 
grains from the freezing-out to which the crop in other northern States is so fre- 
quently subjected. In Berrien the Soule, Treadwell, Tuscany, blue-stem, and 
California are preferred, yielding from 20 to 40 bushels per acre, under good 
cultivation ; white flint and Soule are the principal varieties sown in Bay, but 
are pronounced too late to escape the midge; Soule in Van Buren, Gratiot, 
Muskegon, and Barry; Lancaster in St. Joseph, on account of its general 
exemption from the attacks of the Hessian fly and the rust, which so often 
injure later varieties; in Hillsdale, Calhoun, Clinton, Livingston, Jackson, 
Lapeer, and Oakland, the white Treadwell is quite popular, and in some sec- 
tions superseding the Soule, being preferred as a sure crop, the plant standing 
the winter better than other varieties, and doing well even when sown late in the 
season, and yielding 20 to 30 bushels to the acre. In some counties the prefer- 
ence is given to the white varieties as commanding better prices, but it is gen- 
erally conceded that the red wheat is the hardiest, and hence the safest crop. 
Of a very superior variety of wheat grown in New Jersey, and distributed by 
the Department of Agriculture several years since, our St. Joseph correspondent 
says: “I have distributed in this and adjoining counties over 150 bushels of a 
variety raised from a sample received from your department, marked ‘ White’s 
Bald Mediterranean wheat.’ Should it maintain its present standard it will 
become a general favorite.” The Tappahannock wheat is also becoming popu- 
lar wherever known, for its early ripening qualities as well as for the large yield, 
and excellent quality of the flour it yields. Our Calhoun correspondent writes 
that the Amber is sown in greater quantity than any other variety in that county, 
it being early and hardy, and producing uniform crops and a sound berry, rich 
in flour-producing qualities. This variety is also preferred in Macomb, as less 
liable to rust or injury from the midge. 
The sowing season extends from the 1st to the 30th of September, though 
the greater portion is put in from the 5th to the 20th, and harvesting is gener- 
ally done from the 5th to the 20th of July, though it is sometimes commenced 
in some counties as early as the 1st of the month, and in others extends into 
August. Not more than 20 per cent. of the acreage of the State is drilled, and 
in some counties drilling has not been introduced. In Van Buren, Lapeer, 
Macomb, St. Joseph, Barry, Livingston, Cass, Jackson, Calhoun, Oakland, 
Kalamazoo, and a few other counties, the proportion sown broadcast is about 
one-half on an average. Livingston reports nine-tenths drilled and Cass three- 
fourths. Summer fallowing for wheat appears to be general. In Branch county 
our reporter says they usually summer-fallow, plough twice, and drag sufficiently 
to muke the ground mellow. In Calhoun “ three-fourths of the crop is grown 
on fallow, of which two-thirds is sown on elover sod, ploughed once ; after cul- 
tivation with harrow and cultivator or gang-plough, the rest of the fallow being 
ploughed twice; one-fourth of the whole crop comes after corn or other spring 
crop, a moiety being sown in corn without cutting up. This corn is planted 
five feet apart in squares, cultivated thoroughly and put in with horse cultivator, 
the corn being husked off the hills about the first of September and the cattle 
allowed to winter in the field when. covered with snow.” 
Our St. Joseph reporter says that the mode of culture varies among the best 
farmers, but they generally plough clover sod in June; some then letit lie with- 
out ploughing again, but till thoroughly with cultivator and harrow, while 
- others plough again in August. Our Berrien correspondent writes : 
The manner of cultivation varies according to means and circumstances. My method is 
to plough twice from nine to eleven inches deep with three or four heavy horses, harrow 
thoroughly, sow from one and one-fourth to two bushels, according to size of grain, cultivate 
with a nine-tooth cultivator, cross-harrow with a light harrow, then roll with a heavy roller. 
With this treatment I usually raise heavy crops. 
6. The length of season during which farm stock can feed exclusively upon 
ipastures is reported from four to seven months, but one county naming the 
