SECRETARY'S REPORT. 129 



wheat receive any preparation before sowing ? Yes, answers 

 Mr. A, I raise fine crops of wheat, and I invariably soak my 

 seed ill strong brine, and roll it in lime, plaster or ashes. But, 

 replies Mr. B, my average crop is twenty-five bushels to the 

 acre, and I neither soak nor roll my seed, lest its germinating 

 power should be destroyed. Here are two undisputable facts. 

 Good crops are grown from both prepared and unprepared seed, 

 and occasionally with each there is a failure. 



The diseases of the plant show themselves alike whether the 

 seed be prepared or not. In the growth of the plant, and at 

 the harvest, there is apparently neither gain nor loss by the 

 operation. He that sows, without preparation, does well ; and 

 he that prepares his seed does no better. How strongly soever 

 we may cling to supposed natural laws, and theorize on the 

 idea, that by soaking the seed in certain preparations, we are 

 filling it with a fertilizing matter that increases its vital power, 

 and makes it stronger and more prolific, yet the fact is patent, 

 and cannot be impeached, that wheat succeeds equally well if 

 the seed receives no preparation. It is highly important to sow 

 well-developed, healthy seed ; therefore, if it is of doubtful 

 character, or is supposed to contain foul seed, there is great 

 benefit in putting it into brine, and taking ofi" every thing that 

 rises to the surface. 



Some farmers, influenced apparently by the idea that wheat 

 needs constant nursing and feeding, are accustomed to top-dress 

 their fields, when the plants are young, with some such prepa- 

 ration as lime, plaster, ashes, or guano. Now, while each of 

 these substances may be a ^ood fertilizer for wheat, yet close 

 observation and experience teaches that this mode of applica- 

 tion is not economical, and is often injurious. Such substances, 

 by their pungent, acrid properties, are likely to injure to some 

 extent, tender vegetation, if applied directly to its leaves and 

 tissues, and there is great loss of the substances themselves, 

 when left on the surface, exposed to the full action of sun, 

 wind and rain. To receive the full benefit of these fertilizers, 

 they should be applied at the time of sowing, and thoroughly 

 incorporated with the soil. 



So far as known, drill-sowing is not practiced in this State. 

 A few farmers cover their seed with a cultivator, or a light 

 horse-plough, but the almost universal practice is, to cover with 



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