146 



Varieties, Properties, and Classification of Wheat. Vox.. III. 



such a scale, by judicious subordination, 

 would enable a farmer to surmount the diffi- 

 culty, as fifty acres kept in rotation on such 

 a farm, solely for seed corn, even at thirty 

 bushels the acre, would be the required 

 quantity. So on a small farm, where only 

 fifty acres of wheat would be cultivated, 

 five acres skilfully manaoed in the same 

 way, might prevent the deterioration or de- 

 generating of a variety suited to the soil and 

 climate. It is sometimes difficult to replace 

 a good and suitable variety, though it may 

 have degenerated, as it is called. 



Columella was so aware of the impor- 

 tance of procuring the choicest seed, that he 

 observes, "I have this further direction to 

 give, that when the corns are cut down, and 

 brought into the threshing floor, we should 

 even then think of making provision of seed, 

 for the future seed time ; for this is what 

 Cclsus says, where the corn and crop is but 

 small, we must pick out all the best ears of 

 corn, and of them, lay up our seed separately 

 by itself. On the other hand, when we 

 shall have a more plentiful harvest than 

 ordinary, and a larger grain, whatever part 

 of it is thrashed out must be cleansed with 

 the sieve; and that part of it which, because 

 of its weight and bulk, subsides, and falls 

 to the bottom of the sieve, must always be 

 reserved for seed; for this is of very great 

 advantage, because, unless such care be 

 taken, corns degenerate, though more quick- 

 ly indeed in moist places, yet they do so 

 also in such as are dry." 



This ancient, but most intelligent and ac- 

 complished farmer and writer, was thus fully 

 aware of the importance of selecting the finest 

 and choicest wheat for seed, evidently aware 

 also, from the circumstance of his alluding 

 to the heaviest wheat sinking to the bottom 

 of the sieve, that the most farinaceous 

 wheat was the most nutritious, and best 

 fitted for the purpose of nourishing the 

 young plant in its embryo state. Nor can 

 there be a doubt, bvit that the most plump, 

 well-grown, and perfectly ripe wheat, is the 

 fittest for seed. 



It has frequently puzzled me much to 

 imagine, upon what principle some have 

 rex^ommended for seed, a sort of inferior 

 grain, the refuse of a crop, after all the best 

 had been sent to the market. How a prin- 

 ciple so entirely contrary to the whole 

 economy of nature, — which usually produces 

 the finest progeny, from the healthiest and 

 most robust ])arents, the same being im- 

 proved, or weakened, in proportion to pro- 

 per or improper nurture and culture, — could 

 for a moment obtain, it is difficult to con- 

 ceive ; but it was merely argued, that be- 

 cause a large quantity of sickly seed was 

 sown, and that a portion of it grew and pro- 1 



duced a fair crop, it might be considered 

 safe practice. Even from the finest seed, 

 after five years of experiments, I am per- 

 suaded that for a crop, one-tenth of the best 

 grain perishes, or is destroyed by birds, 

 mice, or insects; but from some sorts which 

 look sickly, and were purposely tritd, sown 

 singly, grain by grain in 1833, I found that 

 a liver colored variety, which from the ap- 

 pearance of the ear, promised to be highly 

 productive, though the grains were ili- 

 grown, thirty-three grains out of seventy- 

 two died — wiiich induced me to discard it 

 as being too delicate, its grains being poor 

 and lean, though grown on a rich and well- 

 prepared soil. Another variety, also, from 

 poor, ill-fed wheat, lost forty-nine grains out 

 of sixty-two. A sample of golden drop, 

 tolerably well grown, had seven vaiieties in 

 a handful, and thirty-four of these died, out 

 of seventy-two grains. Whereas from other 

 healthy plump grains of several varieties, 

 only nine, ten, and twelve died, cut of 

 seventy-two grains of each variety. 



Columella, also, entertained an idea, re- 

 garding the degenerating of wheat, which is 

 still entertained by modern farmers, quite 

 erroneously in my opinion ; the causes of 

 which, according to my view of the ques- 

 tion, will be explained in the succeeding 

 chapter. 



In 1834 the " Belle Vue Talavera." was 

 so well grown and plump, that of three 

 rows of seventy-two grains each, not one 

 died : of No. 1 Dantzic, only three to four, 

 in three rows of the same number; and of 

 No. 2, "Album Densum" only eight, from 

 the same number died. 



From one hundred and forty-four grains, 

 of a new white spring wheat, a very rare, 

 hardy, and promising variety, only ten died. 

 Hence with both farinaceous and productive 

 habits, I think I am also coinbir.ing hardy 

 qualities, selected from among forty or fifty 

 sorts, which habits and qualities 1 ain more 

 or less acquainted with, as far as regards 

 this climate. 



My general observations lead me to be- 

 lieve, that where wheat appears to grow 

 lean and poor looking, it should be discarded 

 from the locality after a fair trial, say after 

 the third year, as tiie second, only, might be 

 the result of climate, or the want of being 

 naturalized to the soil. 



The first trial should be made from seed 

 of the best quality, if this fails after the 

 third year, it evidently is unsuited to the 

 soil and climate, and a new sort should be 

 introduced. 



It must be obvious, that lean and shriveled 

 wheat, is not so likely to nourish the young 

 plant just starting frcim its embryo siate into 

 life, with a mere miserable skin of a pareiit 



