SOILS FOR GROWING OF WHEAT. 29 



of the seed that would ever germinate. It is possible to 

 apply lime before it is completely slaked, and in that case 

 it might affect the seed disastrously. Our correspondent 

 should remember also that limed wheat is more bulky than 

 that which is not limed that the hand can hold fewer 

 kernels in consequence; and it seems to us quite as pro- 

 bable that the seed did not germinate because it was not 

 sown, as that any of it was destroyed by the lime. We 

 do not think his experiment establishes his doubts at all. 

 Pure water, if administered to the seed in sufficient quan- 

 tities, will clean it of this parasite, but salt and lime are 

 more efficacious, and we think quite as harmless to the 

 seed. Plaster or gypsum is a good substitute for lime as a 

 drying material. It is less offensive in its effect upon the 

 hands." 



CHAPTER THIRD. 



SOILS FOR GROWING OF WHEAT PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT 



OF ROTATIONS. 



1 4. As regards the nature of the soil upon which wheat 

 may be grown, it may be said that while almost every de- 

 scription of soil may produce it, those soils nevertheless are 

 best adapted to it which are more or less clayey. Heavy 

 lands are, indeed, generally classed as wheat lands. But 

 if the preparation of the land is properly attended to, wheat 

 may be grown to the greatest perfection upon almost every 

 soil. But while each variety of soil involves some differ- 

 ent mode of preparation, there are certain points which 

 must be attended to in all soils. These essentials are, first, 

 "thorough drainage;" second, "complete cleaning from 

 weeds;" third, "proper rotation of cropping;" fourth, 

 "judicious manuring;" and fifth, "an entire change of 

 seed from hot land to cold, and from cold land to hot." 

 This change of seed will always be advantageous, and espe- 



