THE WHEAT CULTTJRIST. 71 



bushels per acre ; in 1796, twenty-eight bushels per 

 acre; in 1862, thirty- two to thirty-six bushels per acre 

 the increase being due to drainage, tillage, and to the 

 growth of improved varieties. 



On this subject, Hon. Isaac Newton, Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, says : &quot;A new variety of wheat intro 

 duced into a district has in some instances proved of 

 very great value. It is said that the product of one 

 quart of a variety brought from North Carolina in 1845 

 had in nine years benefited the farmers of Preble 

 County, Ohio, alone, more than $100,000 by the gain 

 over what would have accrued from the continued use 

 of the old varieties.&quot; 



The prolificacy of a variety can be determined only 

 by experimenting with it, from year to year. The pro 

 lificacy of grain cannot be determined by the appearance 

 of the kernels, any sooner than one can select a prolific 

 hen, or sow, or a prolific rabbit. 



LARGE WHEAT STORIES. 



I have observed, for a few years past, that almost 

 every agricultural journal will record now and then a 

 fabulous account of the enormous yields of wheat per 

 acre, which are published in good faith ; but which are, 

 in reality, in numerous instances, unmitigated false 

 hoods, originated for some selfish purpose. I regret to 

 feel under obligation to record this fact, that I have per 

 ceived with astonishment that honest and truthful men, 

 whose word is sacred and reliable in all the ordinary 

 transactions between men and neighbors, will sometimes 

 tell stories about their grain which are really untrue. 

 They do not mean to lie ; but the fact is, they think 



