68 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [Marcli, 



may presently solve. This, however, is of little moment, 

 compared with the fact of its efficacy against this scourge. 



There are other causes of the failure of the wheat crop, 

 which the cultivator may guard against to a certain extent. 

 Wheat is liable to suffer much from drought. Without doubt, 

 where the early southern clover is sown with this grain, it will 

 cover the ground, and operate, in a degree, to protect the plant 

 from the heat of the sun. Spring wheat requires to be sown 

 thicker than winter wheat, because it has not the same length 

 of time to grow, and does not spread or tiller so much upon 

 the ground. Where the crop is thin, the ground, of course, is 

 liable to suffer more from drought than where it is thickly sown. 

 The most successful farmers in Great Britain, seldom sow less 

 than three, and sow ofter four bushels of winter wheat to the 

 acre. The thinner the plants stand upon the ground, the more 

 likely are they to suffer from drought. But where such heavy 

 sowing as this takes place, the land should be in high condi- 

 tion. 



Wheat often suffers from being lodged. This frequently 

 happens, where the growth of the plant has been stimulated 

 by green manures, or by weather, which gives an extraordinary 

 impulse to vegetation. The stalk does not gain strength or 

 stiffness in proportion to its expansion and growth, and is liable 

 to become lodged, after which it will not ripen nor fill. Some- 

 times the wheat is blown down by strong winds. The only 

 remedy 1 have known used in such cases, I have heretofore 

 spoken of, where the farmer is in the habit of going into his 

 fields, and with a rake-handle, carefully lifting the plants which 

 are blown down. He says that in such case, a little aid given 

 with much care, will so raise the plant that its seeds will per- 

 fectly ripen. This remedy would seem impracticable to any 

 large extent. 



Having spoken of causes and circumstances operating against 

 the production of wheat, which may be considered as specific^ 

 and, in a popular sense, accidental, I proceed to treat of more 

 general causes of failure. I must, however, in passing, express 



