218 



clean seed on clean land. Previous to putting the 

 seed in the ground (drilling is preferable to sowing 

 broadcast), wheat should be soaked not longer 

 than five or six hours in strong brine, after which 

 a peck or more of recently slaked lime should 

 be added to each bushel, and shovelled over well, 

 in order that the lime may cover each seed. The 

 seed is then ready for sowing. Most good farmers 

 roll the earth after seeding ; some before. As a 

 general rule, friable soils need not be ploughed 

 long before the intended crop begins, to grow. 



Among other fertilizers, wood-ashes, salt, bones, 

 lime, guano, and poudrette have been used in 

 wheat-culture with decided advantage. In Great 

 Britain, manure derived from the consumption of 

 turnips and other root-crops by sheep and neat 

 cattle, is much used in preparing land for wheat. 

 Sheep clover, peas, and Indian-corn rotate well to 

 ensure the economical production of this staple. 

 Manure is usually applied to the crop preceding 

 wheat. Wheat should always be sown in drills. 



It may be interesting to some of my readers to 

 see here the mean result of several organic analyses 

 of wheat made by M, Baussingault. Wheat, dried 

 at 230 in vaeuo, was found to contain 



Carbon 46'1 



Oxygen 23 4 



Hydrogen 58 



Nitrogen 2'3 



Ash 2-4 



Total,.. . 100-0 



