202 Report of Experiments on Wheat in the State ofJV. York. Vol. IX. 



cut, a little higher up, revealed the whole 

 secret. I did not count tlie worms, but 

 there were probably from 20 to 30. I have 

 not now a distinct recollection of the differ- 

 ent length of the worms as described by 

 " Octogenarian," but I felt entirely satisfied 

 that these worms were the occasion of the 

 disease. Within a few days after, I had an- 

 other sheep affected precisely in the same 

 way; — she was entirely unable to stand 

 upon her feet. It occurred to me, that the 

 worms in the head might in some way be 

 affected, either by destroying or dislodging 

 them, by an application of tar. I had the 

 sheep caught and removed the thick wool 

 from the back of the head, between the 

 ears, and in the direction of the nose ; — in 

 the mean time the tar had been warmed 

 into as thin a consistence as would admit of 

 its application without burning, and then 

 with the tar stick used for the wagon-wheels, 

 it was laid on as thick as it could be done, 

 without a danger of its getting into the 

 eyes. It was with the stick literally rubbed 

 into the skin. In the course of twenty-four 

 hours the sheep was so much better as to be 

 able to join the flock — and within a week 

 had entirely recovered. I have never since 

 had a case of the same disease, consequently 

 have not had an opportunity of further test- 

 ing the efficacy of the application. If it had 

 really an agency in effecting the cure, were 

 I to speculate upon the manner of its ope- 

 rating, I should premise, that in consequence 

 of tlie increased and increasing bulk of the 

 worms, in the cavity which should be natu- 

 rally otherwise occupied by the glandular 

 substances of the head ; the constant irrita- 

 tion occasioned tliereby, would produce an 

 inflammation, and this being in such close 

 proximity with the brain, the consequent 

 sympathy of the parts would very naturally 

 result in the spasmodic affection which has 

 been noticed : supposing such to be the fact, 

 the application of the tar acting as a blister, 

 would draw the inflammatio.i to the surface 

 and produce relief Another view of the 

 agency of the tar in effecting the cure, 

 might be inferred from the strong effluvia 

 thrown out by the tar, and being inhaled by| 

 respiration, may have been so obnoxious to 

 those worms, as either to dislodge or to de- 

 stroy them: should the latter have been the 

 effect of the application, I think it is highly i 

 probable that the fuines of either tobacco or! 

 sulphur inhaled by the sheep, might perhaps 

 be more efficacious than the tar. 



If the foregoing is deemed worth a place! 

 in the pages of the Cabinet, I am willing to 

 throw into the general stock of useful mat- 

 ter, my small mite. S. VV. 

 Darlington, Harford co., Md., 1844. 



Report of Experiments on the varieties 

 of Wheat cultivated in the State of 

 New- York. 



(Concluded from page 173, lasl No.) 



Soule^s Wheat. — In the first volume of 

 the New Genesee Farmer, this variety of 

 wheat is noticed as being discovered, or a 

 few heads being found, in a field of white 

 flint, by Jonathan Soule, of Perrinton, in 

 this county. From the best information I 

 can obtain of its first introduction into this 

 State, Judge Soule, of Onondaga county, ob- 

 tained it at Washington. 



It appears to be a mixed variety; about 

 one-half is a red chaff, the other half white 

 chaff bald ; with me, some of it is red chaff 

 bearded. This appears to be a valuable va- 

 riety; the heads are large, five kernels 

 abreast in a chamber; berry beautiful white, 

 bran thin, yielding flour well, and of a good 

 quality. This is claimed as an early varie- 

 ty: it has not proved so with me. It ripens 

 the same as the white flint. In favourable 

 seasons it will give heavy yields. It is not 

 so hardy as some varieties: it is more sub- 

 ject to winter-kill. The straw is of a good 

 size, and rather stiff, holding up its large 

 and heavy heads well. It is not extensively 

 cultivated, except in Wayne county. It 

 has been considerably sought tor the past 

 season for seed. I believe it has not been 

 sufficiently tested to admit it as the main 

 crop. 



Beaver- Dam. — This variety was first no- 

 ticed in Western New- York about twenty 

 years since. White chaft", bald, straw long 

 and stiff, berry red, weighing from sixty to 

 sixty-four, bran thick and tough; flour not 

 in large quantities, and of a yellowish cast. 

 This variety is considered a valuable one on., 

 strong rich soils, seldom lodging, rather slow 

 in ripening. It has produced some heavy 

 yields ; in one instance, fifty-two bushels 

 per acre. It has now wholly gone out of 

 use in this vicinity. 



Eclipse. — An English variety, much re- 

 sembling the white flint in its growth and 

 appearance; is not hardy. Our winters are 

 too severe for it. I have discontinued it in 

 my experiment field. 



Virginia White-May. — I received this 

 variety from Virginia, six years ago. It is 

 a white chaff, bald, much resembling the 

 white flint in its growth and straw; the 

 heads are more clumped; the berry standing 

 out more, and shells easier. The berry is 

 not as white as when I received it, having 

 more of a red, and very hard and flinty ap- 

 pearance ; weighing from 63 to 66 to the bush- 

 el ; bran of a medium thickness; producing 

 flour of a good quality. The first two years I 



