205 



from this report the skilful and successful culti- 

 vation of which on the same soil, from generation 

 to generation, requires more art than is demanded 

 to produce good wheat. To grow this grain on 

 fresh land, adapted to the peculiar habits and 

 wants of the plant, is an easy task ; but such 

 fields, except in rare instances, fail sooner or later 

 to produce sound, healthy plants that are little 

 liable to attacks from the malady called "rust," 

 and that give lengthened ears or "heads" well 

 filled with plump seeds. 



The writer of the report, having long resided in 

 the best wheat-growing district of America, had 

 devoted years of study and observation to all the 

 influences of soil, climate, and constitutional pecu- 

 liarities which affect this bread-bearing plant, and 

 we have consequently every reason to accept him as 

 an authority on the cultivation of wheat. It seems 

 that wheat is far more liable to smut, rust, and shrink 

 in some soils than in others. This appears to be 

 particularly the case where wheat has been long 

 cultivated. As the alkalis and other fertilizing 

 elements become exhausted in the soil, the 

 crops of wheat not only become smaller on an 

 average, but the plants become impaired in 

 constitutional vigour, and are more liable to dis- 

 eases and attacks from parasites and destructive 

 insects. Defects in soil and improper nutrition 

 lead to these disastrous results. 



