GRAIN CROPS. 309 



wheat roots to penetrate every part of it. In fact, in so far 

 as it is a question of manuring, it may be safely assumed that 

 if we can secure a good growth of clover, we neetl have no 

 uneasiness about the wheat. 



While compact clay soils (what are known as strong soils) are 

 the best for wheat, it is of the utmost importance that they be 

 well drained. There is no crop that is grown by American 

 farmers that is more impatient of undue moisture than wheat 

 is ; and it may be considered that every argument that has been 

 advanced in support of tile-draining, applies with redoubled 

 force to the draining of land intended for wheat. 



There is now an active discussion going on throughout the 

 wheat-growing world concerning the quantity of seed to be sown 

 per acre. The doctrines of heavy seeding and light seeding 

 have each their earnest advocates, but, as a conclusion drawn 

 from a careful reading of the arguments in favor of each plan^ 

 I think the weight of reason and the weight of evidence are 

 both on the side of the thin seeding. One bushel of wheat 

 per acre, planted so carefully as to give a fair proportion of 

 seed to each square foot of land, will give an ample stand, — 

 completely occupying the ground, and returning the largest yield 

 of grain. Of course the seed should be planted at a uniform 

 depth and with great regularity. 



It has recently been stated that a field of wheat planted with 

 selected grain, one kernel in a place, rows a foot apart both 

 ways, yielded 159 bushels per acre. This is a marvelous story, 

 and it is not unlikely that the land on which the experiment 

 was tried was in an exceptional state of fertility, nor is it 

 impossible that the truth has been largely overstated. However, 

 it may be assumed as a fact, that a field of wheat planted as above 

 described, with the largest and finest kernels only, has been made 

 to produce much more largely than has ever a field sown in the 

 ordinary way. The quantity of seed used in this planting would not 

 be more than four quarts ; while a single bushel, evenly sown 

 over the whole surface, would give one kernel to each three inches 



