212 



Returns — 20 bushels of wheat, at 1 75, . 35 00 

 Straw, 1^ ton, . . . 5 00 



40 00 



Balance in favor of wheat, $14 33 



The items here are extraordinary. The wheat in this 

 case followed corn. It is not usual to manure for wheat as in 

 this case ; the manure which was given to the corn, where 

 wheat follows corn, being deemed sufficient. The compensa- 

 tion for this extra manuring is not to be found in the crop re- 

 turned, but in the permanent improvement of the soil. The 

 price paid for seed, likewise, is enormous ; and the wheat is 

 valued at a high price. I have known these and indeed 

 higher prices paid, but they are not common. 



It is the practice of this farmer, when breaking up land for 

 corn, to invert the sward completely, laying it as tlat and close 

 as possible. His corn is cultivated without breaking the sward. 

 The second crop, which is wheat, rye or oats, is sown with a 

 light ploughing or harrowing, without disturbing the sward, 

 and grass seed is sown with the small grains. The vegetable 

 matter thus turned over becomes gradually converted into hu- 

 mus or mould, and remains protected from evaporation by the 

 sun and air for the nourishment of the plants cultivated upon it. 



3. In Tyngsborough, wheat has been successfully cultivated. 

 In one case, 1^ acre produced 22J bushels ; in another case, 1^ 

 acre gave 32J bushels. Another farmer speaks of having raised 

 wheat for fifteen years in succession, and with advantage, hav- 

 ing in that time had his crop injured twice only, and that by 

 blight. In Littleton and in Pepperell the farmers reported to 

 me a uniform success in raising wheat for several years ; and 

 speak highly in such cases of the application of ashes. 



These are all the estimates I shall now give on the culture 

 of wheat. Having gone so fully into the subject in my Third 

 Report, and in the Report on the Culture of Spring Wheat, 

 prepared by order of the Senate, it would seem superfluous to 

 treat the subject more at large. There is no natural impediment 



