GRAIN CROPS. 187 



• 

 turned black qjid failed of producing grain, notwithstanding 

 which I gathered thirteen and four-sixtieths bushels of very 

 handsome wheat at harvest time from eighty-three and one-half 

 rods of land. It was threshed by hand, and winnowed by 

 machine. 



In preparing land for wheat, I plough six or seven inches 

 deep, harrow, then sow the grain and harrow it in ; sow to grass 

 seed, bush and roll ; when I sow to winter wheat, I reserve the 

 clover seed, and sow in March. I prepare my seed by soaking 

 it in strong salt brine, from twelve to thirty-six hours, then sift 

 on slack lime or dry ashes, which should be well mixed with 

 the wheat to separate the grains from each other. Tins prepa- 

 ration of the seed has proved a thorough remedy against smut, 

 as I have tried it. I think those farmers who have the right 

 kind of land would find it for their interest to raise wheat to 

 supply their families with flour. A warm sandy loam, in ■ good 

 condition, with no hollows or basins in which water will pond, 

 I consider well suited to wheat culture. Ice or standing water 

 proves very fatal to winter wheat. 



West Bridgewater, October 27, 1862. 



Statement of James Hoivard. 



"Wheat. — The land on which I raised the crop of wheat wliich 

 I entered for a premium, was ploughed in the autumn of 1860, 

 it being in grass previously. The following spring I spread 

 upon it about twelve cords of a mixture, made in the barn 

 cellar, of loam, muck, and manure from stock the previous 

 winter, and cross-ploughed it, and planted it with corn, putting 

 a small quantity of Coe's super-phosphate in the hill. 



It was ploughed and sowed with wheat the 14th of April last, 

 using one and one-half bushels of seed. x\.bout one-third of 

 the piece is rather low and cold ; the weeds on this part got 

 ahead of the grain in the first part of the season, and maintained 

 it to the end ; thereby reducing my crop of grain very much. 

 I should think one-half of the piece produced at the rate of 

 thirty bushels to the acre. The crop was infested by an insect, 

 which I suppose to be a new comer. It was called by some a 

 weevil, but which I suppose is the aphis. Whether it is or not, 



