274 Transactions of the American Institute. 



nently worthy of cultivation, and where the seed has been selected 

 with proper care for several successive seasons, and when the grain 

 has not been allowed to degenerate by injudicious cultivation, there 

 ai'e no other varieties that will excel these just alluded to. A 

 variety of white wheat has long been sought that would be midge- 

 proof. 



Ml-. E. A. King, King's Ferry, Cayuga county, N. Y., who culti- 

 vates the "Weeks wheat in preference to all other vai'ieties of white 

 wheat, writes to the Times that "this wheat was originated some 

 years since by J. M. Weeks, of that town, who selected one or two 

 heads among his other grain, and cultivated it with care, until now, 

 an immense amount of territory is sown with the Weeks variety." 

 Mr. King writes that on his farm, on the eastern slope of Cayuga 

 lake, where the soil is admirably adapted to the production of 

 winter wheat, the Weeks wheat is eight to twelve days earlier than 

 any other variety, and, at the same time, more productive than any 

 other variety raised in that vicinity. Besides this, the growing 

 gi'aiu is not disturbed by the wheat midge and the weevil. 



Our government has expended large sums of money for the 

 purpose of obtaining a variety of white wheat that would possess 

 sufficient hardiness to withstand the rigors of our northern winters, 

 and at the same time be sufficiently early to mature before the 

 wheat midge commences its ravages; but, thus far, all effort has 

 failed. It is a source of great congratulation, however, to learn 

 that American farmers are beginning in earnest, and in the right 

 way, to improve this great staple product of the farm. The value 

 of this single experiment to our nation will never be computed in 

 dollars and cents. Still there is room for further improvements 

 in seed wheat. Adjom-ned. 



September 24, 1867. 



Mr. Nathan 0. Ely in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary, 



BAD BUTTER. 



Mrs. D. Wood, Venice, N. Y., stated that there is more poor but 

 ter this year than common. Not one farmer in ten has a suitable 

 place to set milk. Most pantries are too warm, and cellars are too 

 damp. Then there is not sufficient care in skimming the milk. A 

 good milk house is indispensable. An ice house is important. 



