384 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



growtt of vegetation we have little or no control ; nor over the distribu- 

 tion of sunshine and rain, bnt artificial methods of accelerating growth 

 are within our power. 



" If, for instance, the season is backward, we raay hasten the germina- 

 tion of our seeds by watering with a weak solution of chlorine, iodine, 

 bromine, sulphate of iron, dilute sulphuric acid, or nitric acid, and the 

 compounds of ammonia, and afterward, by the proper application of suita- 

 ble manures, we may continue the development of all parts of the plant 

 during the entire period of its growth, and thus increase, to an amazing 

 extent, the return of seed. 



"I once sowed 2^ bushels of wheat on a well-prepared acre of sandy 

 loam ground, and it yielded me 1,600 pounds of grain, and 3,000 pounds of 

 straw. On an acre of rich, stiff soil, abounding in organic matter and 

 calcareous earth, thoroughly manured, on a pea crop, the same quantity of 

 seed yielded 2,000 pounds of grain, and 4,000 pounds of straw. 



" The grain was placed in dilute sulphate of soda for two hours, before 

 it was sown, for the purpose of destroying the germs of parasites, which 

 are apt to adhere to the kernels unless so treated. 



" The quantity of wheat to be sown to the acre, is a matter of the very 

 highest importance, and may be considered, first, with reference to the 

 anticipated produce of a given quantity of land ; and second, to the yield 

 of the grain sown. There is no doubt but that by sowing thick, a larger 

 yield will be obtained, than by sowing thin. East of the Alleghanies, on 

 rich land, 2^ bushels yield 35 bushels to the acre, when 2 bushels will 

 only yield 30 bushels. In Mississippi, rich lands, with 2-| bushels sown, 

 yield 44 bushels ; with 2 bushels, 40 bushels. In Venezuela, 2^- bushels 

 will yield 44 bushels. In the environs of Paris, 2^- bushels will only pro- 

 duce 25 bushels. In England, on the best soils, 34 bushels. In Lombardy. 

 on iiTigated lands, 25 bushels. 



" With regard to rye, I usually sow 2^ bushels, and find it will thrive 

 in nearly all soils, and in many that will not grow wheat at all; the return 

 of grain is nearly the same average as that of wheat. From an acre of 

 land producing 25 bushels, 54 pounds to the bushel, there would be reaped 

 1,360 pounds of grain, and 4,100 pounds of straw. 



" On land of the same quality, where I only sowed 1^ bushels to the 

 acre, my yield of grain was 1,000 pounds, and 3,000 pounds of straw. 



"In the cultivation of barley, I usually sow 2| bushels to the acre, of 

 the two-rowed Hordeum distichon, which yields 38 bushels, of 36 pounds 

 to the bushel, or 2,394 pounds of barley, and 2,800 pounds of straw. 



" The best season for sowing it is about the 1st of May, after some crop 

 on which manure has been applied ; it will not succeed a summer, fallow 

 well ; the best soil is a rich, finely pulverized loam. I usually sow it 

 broadcast, but it will do better in drills. On a contiguous piece of land I 

 sowed 1^ bushels to the acre, and found great disadvantage in it — the 

 season was dry, and few or no off"sets were thrown off. The yield was 

 1,000 pounds of barley, and 2,000 pounds of straw. 



