THE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 93 



Most persons who received and cultivated this kud of 

 wheat, being grievously disappointed in the growth of 

 ears and yield of grain, denounced the variety as a no- 

 torious humbug. But the grand difficulty rested in their 

 imperfect mode of cultivation. The soil where the 

 originator of this variety cultivated his wheat was ex- 

 ceedingly rich in those elements of fertility which are 

 essential to the growth of large heads and plump kernels 

 of wheat. But the ground where American farmers at- 

 tempted to grow triis European variety was only in 

 a common state of fertility, and by no means rich enough 

 to develop ears of such enormous size. Before heads of 

 giant size can be produced, there must be an abundance 

 of wheat-producing pabulum in the soil available by the 

 growing plants. Then there will be no difficulty in 

 producing a bountiful crop of excellent grain. 



I have had this Pedigree engraved for several specific 

 reasons, one of which is to induce American farmers, if 

 possible, to make an effort to produce such a variety of 

 wheat as this Improved Pedigree is represented to have 

 been. When an experiment of this kind is ever made, 

 care should be exercised to have every characteristic of 

 a perfect variety of wheat, developed as completely as 

 practicable. (See the Characteristics of a Perfect Wheat, 

 on a preceding page.) 



Another idea is, do not go to England for wheat. 

 Select the best heads of some improved American vari- 

 ety ; and improve the seed, from year to year. Varie- 

 ties of wheat brought from Europe to this country must 

 first be acclimated ; and more likely than not, after the 

 wheat has been thoroughly acclimatized, there will be 

 defects in it, just as there was in this noted Pedigree 

 Wheat. But if the variety be improved on American 



