CULTIVATION OF WHEAT. 327 



cured against early frosts ; for if it is cut when it is full in 



the milk, it will ripen in the shock. 



The expense of this crop, and the value of its proceeds, 



may be estimated as follows. 

 Ploughing, 4,00 I Produce, 35 bushels, $35,00 



Manure, 12,00 Corn fodder, lo 00 



$45,00 



28,75 



Profit, $16,25 



Furrowing, ,75 



Planting, 1,50 



First hoeing, 2,50 



2d and 3d hoeing, 4,00 



Gathering, 2,00 



Husking, 2,00 



,75 



This, we think, is a very low estimate of the value of this 

 crop ; for the manure ought not, all of it, to be charged to the 

 corn, as it generally suffices for two more crops. And al- 

 though the average may not be more than 35 bushels to the 

 acre, still 40, 50, 60 or even 120 bushels are often obtained 

 m the Northern and Middle States, and in some cases 170 

 bushels in the South and West. 



Broom-corn is cultivated to a considerable extent in the 

 valley of the Connecticut river, and is a very profitable crop. 

 The particular mode of its cultivation is not a matter of gene- 

 ral interest. It is a crop which yields a great amount of 

 matter ; but as it rarely matures its seeds, it does not ordina- 

 rily exhaust the soil as much as Indian corn. 



2. Wheat has been cultivated from the most remote an- 

 tiquity. With us, two species are known, winter wheat {triti- 

 cum hybermim) and summer wheat [triticum astivum). 



The grain itself appears under two varieties, the flint or 

 dark colored, and the white or thin-skinned. Some varieties 

 are bearded, and others are bald. The white soft-skinned 

 varieties succeed best in dry soils and warm climates; the 

 red and flint varieties prefer a moist soil, and a cool tempera- 

 ature. 



In selecting seed wheat, any variety may be improved ; 

 and It has been found that the best method is to go into the 



