128 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



thus ruined. For the first of these evils, we know of no way of 

 escape or remedy ; but experience proves that injury by the two 

 last, if not prevented, is very much ameliorated by sowing early, 

 (on or Ijcfore the first of September,) and covering the seed 

 deep. The young plants thus become strong and hardy, and 

 the roots well and firmly set in the ground, and it is thus 

 enabled the better to withstand the rigors and changes of the 

 season. 



The time of sowing, quantity of seed, and its preparation, 

 have each more or less influence on the crop. The time of 

 sowing the winter variety has been alluded to above, but this is 

 a matter of so much importance, that it is well to call attention 

 to it again, as the reasons for sowing at certain times are good 

 for both the spring and winter varieties. The desideratum in 

 sowing is, if possible, to place the seed in the earth at such a 

 time of the season, that it may be sufficiently late to escape the 

 frosts of May and June, early enough to be out of its bloom 

 and milk, at the time its numerous insect enemies are deposit- 

 ing their eggs, (for it is only when in this state that most of 

 them can do it any injury,) and to be well advanced towards 

 ripening, before the hot, dry weather of late July and early 

 August. In the greater part of the State there is but little 

 danger of the frosts of May and June, therefore sow early as 

 possible. In April, if it can be done, but under no circum- 

 stances until the soil is sufficiently dry and warm to work up fine 

 and mellow. In elevated mountainous localities, where the 

 springs are late, and the earth not in condition to receive the 

 seed until after the middle of May, defer sowing until the 

 first or second week in June. Its flowering season will then 

 come after the insects have disappeared, and early September 

 will bring in the grain in perfection. 



The quantity of seed per acre should be of the winter variety, 

 one bushel and a half, as the rule ; but if sown early, it may be 

 diminished a peck ; if late, increased by that amount. The 

 question of the influence of soil of different degrees of fertility 

 on the i)lants, as affecting their tillering, and consequently the 

 quantity of seed, is of but little practical importance, as the 

 life-long experience of intelligent wheat-growers has led them to 

 adopt nearly this rule. Of spring wheat, two bushels, increased 

 or diminished according to the same circumstances. Should 



