THE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 275 



ready by the first of August or earlier, such small quan 

 tities may be sown, provided the sowing is done early. 



Thin sowing is the first cause of large and vigorous 

 ears to select from. On this point, there can be no 

 mistake, seeing that thick sowing has an exactly* reverse 

 effect, diminishing and crippling the growth of the ear, 

 until, with extreme quantities, there is scarcely a good 

 kernel, or a good ear. Therefore, in order to get good 

 ears to select from, or to be certain of the largest possible 

 yield of grain, sow only a moderate quantity per acre. I 

 think that every intelligent wheat-grower will agree with 

 me, that thin sowing has quite as much or more to do 

 with a large product of superior grain, as the choice of 

 a prolific variety. No rule can be laid down that will 

 serve as a reliable guide for farmers in various portions of 

 the country in determining the quantity of wheat per acre. 

 For this reason, I shall not attempt to state how much 

 this farmer, or that wheat-grower, should sow per acre. 

 In a letter dated June 27th, Mr. M. says : 

 " I related last year that a peck of seed wheat per acre, 

 dibbled at intervals of about 41 inches, one kernel in a 

 hole, produced fifty-eight bushels of heavy wheat per acre, 

 and 2f tons of straw ; in fact, the thickest and heaviest 

 crop of corn and straw on my farm. It was seen at 

 various periods of its growth by many agricultural and 

 other visitors. During winter, a single stem only hav- 

 ing appeared from each kernel, the land at a distance 

 appeared as if unsown, and we were often asked why we 

 had omitted to drill that particular portion of the field. 

 In the spring each stem radiated its shoots horizontally, 

 to the extent in some instances of thirty to forty-eight 

 stems, and ultimately became the best crop on the farm, 

 and, which is often convenient in harvesting, about 



