1840.] SENATE— No 36. 177 



the agricultural community must look for much valuable and satisfac- 

 tory information in a matter in which their interest as farmers is so 

 deeply involved. Allowing me, however, to judge from my own expe- 

 rience, I say without hesitation I have no doubt as to the successful 

 culture of this valuable crop in all parts of the Commonwealth; I mean 

 with a due application of skill in the management and cultivation of 

 our grounds. 



The soil of my farm consists of a thin loam upon a hard, gravelly 

 subsoil, being what geologists call a granite soil, and is similar to that 

 of a great part of the Commonwealth ; and Lbelieve by adopting a 

 correct mode of culture, is capable of producing wheat with as much 

 certainty as any other crop. 



My first attempt in the culture of wheat was twelve years ago, upon 

 a field of two acres. The soil, a pretty deep loam upon a gravelly sub- 

 soil. The field had been planted for two or three years previous with 

 corn and potatoes. T ploughed shoal, and not knowing the necessity 

 oflime, lused none. The crop failed, yielding me but little more 

 than twice the quantity of seed sown. The seed was a common kind 

 of wheat procured in the neighborhood. Three years after, 1 com- 

 menced again sowing wheat, but with a different method of culture, 

 and for nine years past have not failed in a single instance of having 

 a good crop. I will give you the result of my practice for the three 

 years past. 



In the spring of 1837, I sowed a field of six acres. The field hav- 

 ing been then recently set to an orchard, had been under the plough 

 for two or three years and planted with corn and roots. Early in the 

 spring the field was ploughed deep, bringing to the surface a consider- 

 able portion of the fresh earth which had never before been disturbed. 

 Two bushels of Black Sea wheat having previously been steeped twen- 

 ty-four hours in strong brine, and rolled in slacked lime, were sowed 

 to the acre upon the furrow. At the same time I had spread upon the 

 field 100 bushels to the acre of lime and peat ashes, an equal part of 

 each, which had been mixed and lay in a heap for some weeks. The 

 field was then well harrowed and rolled. There was no appearance 

 of blight or rust. At the time of harvesting, I gathered and threshed 

 one acre, probably the best, and it yielded 25 bushels of remarkably 

 handsome grain. 



In 1838, I sowed a field of the same number of acres, which was in 

 grass in the spring of 1837. The soil, a thin vegetable mould resting 

 upon a gravelly subsoil, and alternately under the plough and in grass 

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