232 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



seven set,) the proceeds of which filled a common wine-glass. 

 The above was planted the following autumn, and produced 

 one peck, which was planted November 8, 1841, and produced 

 seven bushels and one peck : planted the same, November 2, 

 1842 ; the produce one hundred and eight bushels and two pecks ; 

 which was planted in the autumn of 1843, and produced one 

 thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight bushels. This was 

 the increase from the eighteen ears, in the short space of four 

 years. 



We have another account of the product of a single ear, grown 

 by an excellent and spirited farmer, Mr. Jonas, of Cambridgeshire. 



iu 1838, dibbled in 50 kernels, (30 of which only grew ;) 



product, 14:| oz. 



&quot; 1839, &quot; &quot; 14J ounces; .... &quot; 1J bushel. 



&quot; 1840, &quot; &quot; 1 bushel 1 peck ; . . &quot; 45 bushels. 

 &quot; 1841, &quot; &quot; 45 bushels; .... &quot; 537 &quot; 



A wheat in Scotland, known as the Hopetoun wheat, and 

 deemed an excellent and prolific variety, owes its origin to the 

 accidental circumstance of an observing farmer, Mr. Patrick 

 Shirreff, having, in 1832, remarked a very superior ear, from 

 which he picked out ninety-nine corns; and from their product 

 came this celebrated variety. A similar origin is ascribed to the 

 Chevalier barley, a popular and favorite variety, which sprung 

 from an extraordinarily fine head, gathered from his fields by a 

 gentleman of the name of Chevalier, and sedulously propagated. 

 It is thus seen &quot; what great effects from little causes spring,&quot; and 

 how often an improved variety may be obtained, in the vegetable 

 as well as in the animal creation, by a careful, repeated, and per 

 severing selection. 



The preparation of seed wheat, with a view to prevent smut, 

 is by immersing it in brine sufficiently strong to bear an 

 egg, and then sprinkling it with lime. Some persons recom 

 mend a solution of arsenic : but this is always attended with dan 

 ger. An eminent farmer in Gloucestershire is of opinion that 

 he always secures his crop against smut, by sowing newly- 

 threshed seed, the produce of the preceding year. In his culti 

 vation, he sows from three arid a half to four bushels ; his 

 average crop is stated to be from twenty-eight to thirty bushels, 

 and sometimes forty bushels, per acre. The depth of sowing 



