SECRETARY'S REPORT. 127 



The varieties of wlieat, though undoubtedly springing from a 

 common stock, are almost numberless, and their varying 

 qualities are probably owing to soil, climate, and modes of cul- 

 tivation. Of the kinds cultivated in this State the principal 

 are, the White Flint, Blue Stem, White Kentucky, Black Sea, 

 Mediterranean, Java, Wisconsin Club, and Bearded Spring ; 

 all of which are good, but neither of which can be recommended 

 in all respects as superior to any other. Wheat, like other 

 grains and vegetables, if long cultivated in any locality, is 

 prone to deteriorate in quality and yield, and therefore requires 

 changing. By this a change of variety alone is not intended, 

 but also a change of locality. The Mediterranean of Plymouth 

 County, would be improved by transferring to Berkshire 

 County, and vice versa. Each in its new home would produce 

 finely for several years, and then gradually decline, requiring 

 another removal. The various winter varieties are generally 

 preferred by millers for flouring. They produce more flour 

 from a given quantity, and it is whiter, but its bread is no 

 sweeter or more nutritious than from spring wheat, and their 

 greater uncertainty on account of winter-killing, leads our 

 farmers generally to prefer the spring varieties. 



The destruction of wheat, by what is termed winter-killing, 

 may be accomplished in either of three ways : First, by " heat- 

 ing or smothering." The wheat field is sometimes covered 

 deeply with a solid, impervious body of snow, when the earth 

 is not frozen. The active vitality of the roots continues, but 

 all air and light being excluded from tlie leaves, and conse- 

 quently all action necessary to preserve the equilibrium of the 

 plant, together with the heat at the surface of the ground, dis- 

 posing vegetation to decomposition, it is destroyed. The same 

 thing is accomplished, and on the same principle, when vege- 

 tation is covered with boards, or stocks of grain or corn. Second, 

 by absolute freezing, in open winters. The ground being bare 

 of snow, and the weather very severe, it becomes frozen to great 

 depth, and very hard. The plant also is exposed to the fierce 

 winter blasts and extreme cold, and not being sufiiciently hardy 

 for such treatment, it dies. Third, by the changes of spring, 

 or the freezing and thawing process the soil goes through in 

 the change from winter, to the settled warm weather. The 

 roots of the plant are often drawn from the soil, or broken, and 



