CROPS. 467 



prematurely ripe. The wetness of the climate in the former, 

 however, makes the harvest more precarious. 



Of manures for wheat, it is ordinarily best that they should be 

 given with the preceding crop. Green, or coarse manures from 

 the stables, applied directly to wheat, are universally deemed 

 objectionable. The effects of lime on the soil may be con 

 sidered as threefold; first, in dividing a tenacious soil, and 

 rendering it friable ; second, in preparing the vegetable matter in 

 the soil for the nutrition of the plant j and, in the third place, 

 some portion of it may be taken up with advantage by the plant 

 itself. The principle of potassium in the soil, in the form of 

 common wood ashes or otherwise, seems always highly benefi 

 cial, and almost indispensable. Liquid manure, urine diluted 

 with water, is sometimes applied to the growing crop with great 

 advantage. I have known also the water in which flax has been 

 rotted applied with remarkable success. 



The harvesting of wheat should take place rather early than 

 late ; that is, while there is a degree of greenness ^bout it, 

 rather than to wait until it becomes perfectly dry, as in such 

 case much will be lost in shelling out. In the /ormer case, it 

 becomes ripe in the shock j and it seems well established that, 

 when cut early, it makes better bread, and m re is obtained from 

 the same quantity of flour. 



These are the great axioms which I Vave gathered in respect 

 to the cultivation of wheat on the European continent. The 

 importance of the subject will N a sufficient apology for my 

 pursuing it at this length, thou5 n l ma Y have added little to the 

 knowledge which exists in m Y own country ; and though, in 

 many parts of the Unit^ States, as I well know, the practice 

 may be already high!/ improved. When all its various uses are 

 considered, the ea* 3 f i ts cultivation, the great amount, under 

 good and libers 1 culture, of its production, and the few accidents 

 or maladies -^ which the crop is liable, and more than this, the 

 amount \viiich it returns in manure to the land, I know no plant 

 or crop 80 valuable as that of Indian corn, (maize,) in countries 

 who-e the climate admits of its ripening ; but wheat has the 

 iKiiversal preeminence in public estimation ; its use in civilized 

 countries is daily becoming more general, and is taking the place 

 of all coarser grains ; and, in a commercial view, as well as an 

 article of subsistence and luxury, it will continue to occupy the 

 highest place among the cereal grains. 



