238 THE WHEAT CTJLTUKIST. 



and cleans over the required number of bushels he wishes 

 to sow. Often, very often, this grain is sown without 

 being cleaned at all. Want of time is urged as an ex- 

 cuse, because the ground is left until it is fitte$ for the 

 seed. If it is a law of nature that like produces like, 

 what can be expected of such a process but a constant, 

 certain deterioration ?" 



CHOOSE THE HEAVIEST KERNELS. 



The heaviest, cleanest, most perfect berry should be 

 sown always, of all small grain. One way to obtain 

 this kind of seed is as follows : Clean your barn floor ; 

 place your grain in a heap at the opposite door to the 

 one at which the current of air enters ; then with a small 

 hand-scoop throw out your grain against the wind, so as 

 to fall a little short of the other end of your floor. Of 

 course the heaviest grain will be that which flies fur- 

 thest ; and this will be clean also. If the screen in your 

 fanning-mill has meshes wide enough to admit of the 

 small grains of wheat passing through, you may succeed 

 in cleaning your wheat fit for seed, also your rye ; but 

 for oats and barley this will not be the case, as the small 

 grain cannot pass through the screen. 



On this subject of selecting seed wheat, a writer in 

 the " Mark Lane Express " has said : " The varieties of 

 wheat are now so numerous, that much difficulty arises 

 in making a proper choice. Whatever variety may be 

 chosen, the farmer ought to select the best sample of it 

 that he can meet with. I would as soon use an inferior 

 ram to my flock, or an inferior bull to my herd, as to 

 sow an inferior grain, be it from whatever well-known 

 stock. I have derived great advantage from changes 



