36 



investigation than John Johnston ; hence these words 

 will be received as instructive truths, by all who 

 know his exalted worth. 



The wheat plant has many enemies. The midge, 

 the mildew and the Hessian fly too often nearly ruin 

 it ; but according to the authority of Lewis Boll man, 

 of Indiana: "Freezing out, is perhaps more destruc- 

 tive to the wheat crop than -all other misfortunes to 

 which it is incident." (Agricultural Report, 1862.) 



S. E. Todd, says: " In every wheat field may be 

 seen in Spring, plants growing in little hollows, 

 sheltered by lumps or banks from the cold wind, but 

 enjoying the benefit of the sun's rays. The difference 

 between the growth of these plants and others which 

 have not the benefit of shelter, is remarkable. 

 (Wheat Culturist, p. 212.) 



Again he says, on page 226 : "The more we can 

 protect the wheat plants from piercing winds and 

 intense cold, the better crops of grain we may 

 expect to raise." 



In corroboration of these statements, we have seen 

 reports of stumps in the Western States, saving little 

 patches of wheat all ovej the field. 



Sidney Weller of North Carolina, was in the habit 

 of scraping up the pine leaves in the forest and cover- 

 ing- his wheat in the fall with much care and trouble. 

 He says : *' By four years trial, I have now found it 

 always benefits the wheat ; sometimes increasing the 

 product one-half at least, and even guards the clover 

 against the misfortune of burning out in hot, dry 

 summers." Cultivator, 1843.) 



What a contrast between the labor of spreading 



