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On Smyrna Wheat, by Samuel Hazard* 



Read December, 1815, 



The accompanying specimens of wheat are a part of a 

 bag which I have brought from Smyrna in Turkey with 

 a view to distribution by the society. Having unfortu- 

 nately had a long passage, the season for sowing has too 

 fat elapsed to make a fair trial of them. Notwithstand- 

 ing, I am desirous that the experiment should be made 

 as fir as practicable, to ascertain whether the introduction 

 of this variety of wheat into our country may be attend- 

 ed with great advantages. I have never heard of its be- 

 ing before attempted ,but should this have been the case 

 an opportunity will be afforded to confirm the result of 

 former experiments, and supply the seed from the growth 

 of our own country. 



No. 1 is the hard wheat and which I had particularly 

 \\\ view in bringing the grain to this Country. Its hard- 

 ness seems to be the quality which recommends it to at- 

 tention, this property rendering it less liable to the attacks 

 of the insects either in the field or granary. It is this 

 grain which constitutes the principal commerce of the Black 

 Sea, and the sea of Azof; and is from thence carried 

 to Malta and various parts of Europe. At Malta, and in. 

 the Islands of the Archipelago, there are capacious sub- 

 terranean Magazines which bein^ filled with this wheat, 

 are closed from the air ; and continued unopen'd till oc- 



