282 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S REPORT. 



producing scab and rust, the latter especially often prov- 

 ing very destructiv^e. Against most of these evils early 

 sowing is perhaps the best preventive. Wheat sown 

 in September would evidently be better fitted to with- 

 stand the rigors of winter ; and experience shows that 

 it is more likely to escape the dangers which threaten 

 it in summer. Rarely suffering from rust, and having 

 longer time to mature, the grain is generally increased 

 in weight and improved in quality. Ploughing in the 

 seed, or some other method which would insure a 

 deeper covering of earth than it generally receives, 

 would, by giving a greater depth of root, be a preserva- 

 tive against som.e of these evils, particularly the effects 

 of winds and drought. Spring wheat has not yet been 

 tried to an extent sufficient to test the propriety of its 

 general instruction. A trial of it is, however, desira- 

 ble. If found to be adapted to our climate,' it would 

 prove a valuable acquisition, especially when a suffi- 

 cient quantity of the winter variety has not been sown. 



For the profitable culture of Indian corn^ the greater 

 part of our soil is not well fitted. And though a most 

 valuable crop, and, to a certain extent, indispensably 

 necessary to every farmer, it is desirable, on account of 

 its exhausting qualities, and the exposure of the soil to 

 washing during its cultivation, to reduce the quantity 

 grown as much as possible by the introduction of other 

 crops to supply its place. And here we would recom- 

 mend that, in the cultivation of this and similar crops, 

 a level surface should be retained as far as practicable. 

 This will not only lessen the danger of washing, but 

 be conducive to the growth of the crop. 



Oats thrive well with us, and are to be prized not 

 only for their marketable value, but as furnishing an 

 excellent food for work-horses, and thus superseding 

 the necessity of an enlarged crop of Indian corn. It 

 has also been found to be an excellent preparation for 

 wheat in heavy soils. 



Rye has proved rather an unprofitable crop in our 



