1840.] SENATE— No. 36. 73 



ture longer ; but the bald varieties seem more liable to the 

 attack of the wheat insect ; though this fact is not fully estab- 

 lished. It appears from the reports, that in the same field one 

 variety suffered from blight while another escaped ; but this 

 seems to have been accidental and not attributable to any 

 known causes. The difference in the product in flour of differ- 

 ent varieties of wheat is very considerable, in some cases 

 equal to at least five bushels in a hundred. This may de- 

 pend somewhat upon the cultivation ; but it is well ascer- 

 tained that the white varieties produce more fine flour to the 

 same weight of grain than the red wheats. 



The soil on which wheat is cultivated is not matter of indif- 

 ference. As I have said, it will grow upon any soil which is 

 not too wet, and which is reduced to a sufficient degree of fine- 

 ness ; yet, beyond question, a strong and tenacious soil, which 

 is inclined to clay, is most favorable to its growth. Experi- 

 ence has well established this point ; and though pure clay 

 would be as unfavorable to the growth of wheat as pure sand, 

 yet the best soils for wheat are those which are tenacious and 

 unctuous, or soapy to the feel. 



Manures for Wheat. — The soil for wheat cannot be too 

 rich, by which I intend, that it cannot abound too much in 

 vegetable matter, if it be perfectly decayed and thoroughly 

 incorporated with the soil. The use of long, green and unfer- 

 mented manures — though there are cases which seem to form 

 exceptions — is highly unfavorable to the crop. It forces the 

 growth of the plant too much, and renders it liable to blight 

 and to become lodged. The land should be enriched by pre- 

 vious crops ; and if any manure is applied in the year of rais- 

 ing the wheat it should be thoroughly decomposed and mixed 

 as evenly as possible with the soil. Fresh liquid manure of 

 urine, has been tried on wheat ; but though it increased very 

 much the growth of the straw, and gave it a deep green color, 

 it was not found to fill out as well as was expected, and the 

 wheat was not of a good quality. This is a remarkable but 

 not unobserved fact in vegetable economy, that the luxuriance 

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