138 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES OP WHEAT. 



Besides introducing valuable kinds from abroad, and the 

 improvement of such as we now have by careful cultivation, 

 new varieties may be secured by hybridizing or crossing. 

 This is done by impregnating the female organs of the flowers 

 on one plant, by the pollen from the male organ of another. 

 The progeny sometimes differs materially from both parents, 

 and occasionally partakes of the leading qualities of each. 

 Among those thus produced, some may be found of peculiar 

 excellence, and worthy of supplanting others, whose value is 

 declining. The effect of this crossing, is striking in the, ear 

 of corn, where the red and white, the blue and yellow ker- 

 nels are seen to blend in singular confusion over the whole 

 ear, each differing, too, in size, shape and general qualities. 

 Observation will sometimes detect a new variety of wheat 

 in the field, self-hybridized, the result of an accidental cross. 

 If this has superior merit, it should be carefully secured and 

 planted in a bed by itself for future seed. 



Propagation may be extended with incredible rapidity 

 by dividing the plant. The English Philosophical Trans- 

 actions give the result of a trial, made by planting a single 

 grain on the 2d of June. On the 8th of August, it was taken 

 up and separated into 18 parts, and each planted by itself. 

 These were subdivided and planted, between 15th of Sep- 

 tember and 15th of October, and again the following spring. 

 From this careful attention, in a fertile soil, 500 plants were 

 obtained, some containing 100 stalks bearing heads of a 

 large size; and the total produce within the year, was 

 386,840 grains from the single one planted. 



SPRING WHEAT. 



This requires a soil similar to that of winter grain, but it 

 should be of a quick and kindly character, as the grain has 

 a much shorter time to mature. The ground must be well 

 pulverized and fertile. The best crops are raised on land 

 that has been plowed in the fall, and sown without addi- 

 tional plowing, taking care to harrow in thoroughly. When 

 planted early, the wheat rarely suffers from the fly, as it at- 

 tains a size and vigor that withstands any injury from the 

 fly when it appears. In certain localities, where the fly 

 abounds and the wheat has not been early sown, it is* found 

 necessary to keep back the young plants, till the disappear- 

 ance of the fly. Large crops have been obtained under fa- 

 vorable circumstances, when sown as late as the 20th May. 



