CULTURE OF SPRING WHEAT. 49 



The effect of this alternate heat and cold on our wheat 

 crops has been thus described : "The frost draws the 

 moisture of the ground to the surface, and there freezes 

 it ; when the sun shines upon the ice, it melts, and most 

 frequently very rapidly, and the consequent evaporation 

 produces such an intense degree of oold, as even to kill 

 the plant suddenly ; and if they escape destruction in 

 this way, the damp ground, that had been raised up by 

 means of the expanded condition of the ice, suddenly 

 contracts by its melting, leaving the plants with their 

 roots half drawn out of the earth, in which state many 

 perish." 



When we consider the frequent changes of our cli- 

 mate, and the danger to wheat from these severe and 

 late frosts, and when we are also made acquainted with 

 the numerous insect enemies that beset this valuable 

 plant, it is only surprising, and a matter of much gra- 

 titude, that our losses are not more serious and general 

 than they are, and that year after year we are blessed 

 with good average crops, if not always with very abun- 

 dant harvests. The farmer watches the varying appear- 

 ance of the crop with feelings of which others can have 

 little notion. He observes the bluish hue caused by 

 long continued rains, the bright and vivid green pro- 

 duced by dry weather in spring, and the brown tinge 

 at the points of the blades, which betoken spring frosts, 

 or eastei'ly winds. In cases where much damage has 

 been done to winter wheat, he endeavours in some mea- 

 sure to repair his loss by sowing afresh in spring. 



The culture of spring wheat is not generally recom- 

 mended, but in some instances it proves advantageous, 

 and, as above noticed, it is sometimes had recourse to 

 as a compensation for losses during winter. About the 

 middle or end of March is reckoned the best time for 

 sowing this description of crop. At the same time with 

 it, seeds of clover, rye-grass, or other grasses are depo- 

 sited on the same land ; and whether spring wheat be 

 sown or not, such seeds are sown on the surface of the 



E 



