THE WHEAT CROP. 49 



time without being struck by the different stages of ma- 

 turity of the plant at the time of the operation, no less 

 than the different modes in which it is effected. It is 

 pretty clear that all cannot be right. Some must be more 

 advantageous than others ; and if we give the subject a 

 little consideration, we shall probably eliminate something 

 like principles, which it is to our interest to follow as 

 closely as we can under the varying circumstances in which 

 we may be placed. 



The best indication of harvest time is given by the 

 changed colour of the straw immediately below the head. 

 When this changes from green to yellow, which it does 

 before the body of the straw changes, the circulation of 

 the plant is arrested, and the head can receive no more 

 nourishment from the roots. We know that it can derive 

 none from the air, and therefore at this period must con- 

 tain within itself all that is necessary for its perfection, 

 whether it be cut at once or left standing any longer time. 

 If this be admitted, then it is clearly the interest of the 

 farmer to run no further risk of injury from change of 

 weather, birds, &c., and without loss of time to cut it 

 down, and get it safely housed as soon as possible. By 

 commencing harvest at this period of maturity, the risks 

 of bad weather are considerably diminished, the crop 

 remaining without injury for any short intervals of bad 

 weather ; whereas, if it were fully ripe, as is too generally 

 the practice, a day or two of wet weather sets up the pro- 

 cess of germination, whether standing or in the stook, and 

 the sample is materially injured. 



But this is not the only manner in which a farmer's in- 

 terests are affected by the time of cutting his wheat ; for 

 it appears that not only is the gross weight of his produce 

 affected by it, but also the relative proportions of its most 

 important constituents bran, flour, and gluten. This is 

 an investigation which deserves more consideration at 



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