ELEMENTS OF CROPS. 349 



WHEAT. 



I analyzed the grain gathered in 1837 : one of wheat, dried in 

 vacuo at 230° F. was reduced to 0.885 ; one of dry wheat left of 

 ash 0.0243 : 



Carbon 46.10 



Hydrogen 5.80 



Oxygen 43-40 



Azote 2.29 



Ash 2.43 



100.00 



The mean produce in wheat at Bechelbronn varies from 20^ to 

 22 bushels per acre ; this variation depends on the drill crop which 

 commences the rotation. After potatoes the average crop is 19^ 

 bushels; after beet-root, 17 bushels; on clover-breaks it is 24 bushels. 

 The average weight of the grain is 63 lbs. per bushel. 



WHEAT-STRAW. 



I estimate the proportion of the produce in grain to that in straw, 

 as 44 to 100. 



One of straw completely dried in vacuo at 230° F. becomes 0.740; 

 one of dry straw leaves 0.0697 of ash : 



1. n. 



Carbon 48-48 48-38 



Hydrogen 5.41 5.21 



Oxygen 38.79 39.09 



Azote 0-35 0.35 



Ash 6-97 69.7 



100-00 100.00 



RED CLOVER. 



Clover delights in clayey soils ; it thrives generally in good wheat 

 lands ; in light and sandy ground it gets bare and frosted. During 

 its growth, it always requires the shelter of some other plant. For 

 this reason, in spring, it is generally sown among wheat, which is 

 put in the preceding autumn, or barley sown the same spring. We 

 generally give from 11 to 14 lbs. of seed per acre. Clover is mow- 

 ed the second year, as it is coming into flower ; but when it is not 

 to be consumed as green fodder, the mowing may take place before 

 the flowering ; this is required from the difficulty of making it into 

 hay. In fact, in the process of drying clover, there is great risk of 

 losing part both of the leaves and flower ; besides, the drying always 

 requires a considerable time, during which the clover runs the chance 

 of being damaged by rain, and clover hay-making is almost im- 

 practicable in wet weather. Schwertz proposed to dry the clover 

 on a sort of parrot-perches stuck into the ground. These supports 

 are but eight feet high, and capable of bearing a load of 2 cwt. of 

 green fodder, mowed twenty-four hours, and already withered. This 

 method, as I have seen it practised in the Duchy of Baden, answers 

 well, but there is considerable cost for manual labor, and in the first 

 instance for perches. Schwertz reckons that 2 cwts. of green clover 



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