368 



THE ILLINOIS FARMEK. 



Dec. 



now lie turns it over and seeds after barley, and 

 oats, &c., &c. 



T. C. Peters — So far as white wheat is con- 

 cerned, the theory of the effect of the season 

 upon the ravages of the midge upon it, is correct. 

 But the Mediterranean is the only variety that 

 can be grown now safely. He thinks the white 

 wheat has very much degenerated. 



Other gentlemen present coincided with him 

 in this matter and united in asserting that the 

 best mode of redeeming white wheat was to 

 change the seed. It was further agreed that the 

 Mediterranean had greatly improved by cultiva- 

 tion — that it was "bleaching out." 



Mr. Bishop, of Wyoming, asked if early or late 

 sowing had not something to do with checking the 

 ravages of the Aphis ? 



Dr. Fitch replied, yes. Its ravages are great- 

 est on the late sown wheat. Late sowing is not 

 advised, if the object is to avoid its ravages. 

 The same remark applies conversely to the 

 midge. It does not so seriously affect the 

 late, as the early sown wheat. 



Pres't CoKNELL — Have you observed the 

 Aphis in the ground around the roots of the 

 barley ? 



Dr. F. had so discovered it. 



Mr. Gebdes — Why is it that the midge should 

 have appeared one year, and not doubled the 

 second and trippled the third, &c., &c. He 

 thought the midge was disappearing. 



Dr. Fitch said there were two successive years 

 ■when the midge disappeared, and then the third 

 year appeared again, and was very destructive. 

 He does not think it was because the midge 

 passed away from the country, but because the 

 season wns not favorable (o its development — 

 or at least not favorable to its operations on 

 wheat — it passed to some other grain. 



At this point there was a rambling conversal 

 discussion upon the relative value of different 

 varieties of wheat. Much of this the reporter 

 was unable to hear. But he heard enough to 

 establish the fact that there were many present 

 who believed the Mediteiranean the safest and 

 best wheat to sow ; that it was improving in 

 character, while the white wheat of the Qenessee 

 Valley was deteriorating. A few claimed that 

 better flour could be made from the Mediterra- 

 nean than from any other wheat. 



— We would call the especial attention of our 

 wheat growing readers to the above, as there is 

 no doubt that we shall at no distant day re- 

 ceive a visit from this pe^st of the wheat 

 field.— Ed. 



-*•*- 



President Lincoln is reported to have said, a 

 few days ago, "that the whole energies of the 

 Government were now devoted to the opening 

 of the Mississippi river." This declaration, in 

 connection with the doubt about the object of 

 the recent expeditions, it is thought, may be 

 significant. 



Egyptian Hulless Barley. — While in Illinois 

 a few days since, we were shown a specimen of 

 the above grain by Rev. B. L. Lumbard, who re- 

 sides a few miles west of Henry, in Marshsill Co. 

 Mr. L. purchased the seed two years since in the 

 city of I3nston, at $3 per bushel. He raised .about 

 two hundred bushels this season, which he will 

 endeavor to distribute among the farmers of Uli'' 

 nois and Iowa for seed next season. It has very 

 much the appearance of good rye, and it is said, 

 will make very good bread. Mr. L. infoms us 

 that it received little or no injury from the bugs 

 which ravaged the wheat fields of that section 

 to such an extent the past season. Its weight is 

 about 70 pounds per bushel measured. We think 

 it a valuable acquisition to the Northwest. The 

 wheat fields of some portions of our State have 

 been rendered comparatively worthless this sea- 

 son by the bug, and it behooves our farmers to 

 be on the alert to find some crop which will with- 

 stand the ravages of that insect. Barley is now 

 worth more than the first quality of wheat, in our 

 towns upon the Missippi river ; and farmers who 

 are lucky enough to have a large quantity on 

 hand, are now receiving the benefit of their fore- 

 sight. Our farmers must abandon the idea of 

 growing rich by raising wheat alone. Tbey must 

 diversify their crops and their labors. We would 

 advise our farmers to send for, at least, a small 

 quantity of the hulless barley. The sooner ap- 

 plied for, the better, as the farmers of Illinois will 

 soon use up the amount which Mr. Lumbard has, 

 and we do not know where it can be obtained ex- 

 cept from him. He can be addressed at Henry, 

 Marshall county, or Bradford, Stark county, Illi- 

 nois. — Cor. Ed. 



Remarks. — We have received a specimen of 

 the above grain, and which any one can examine 

 by calling at our office, and which fully answers 

 the description given above, as far as we are able 

 to judge from appearance. — Iowa Homestead. 



Fall Sowing of Aknual Flower Seeds, — 

 There are some annuals which do better when 

 sown in the fall than in the spring. Every per- 

 son at all observant of flower gardens, must 

 have noticed that certain annual flowers come 

 up in spring from seeds self-sown the previous 

 year ; aqd these often make very vigorous plants, 

 and bloom a month or so earlier than those of 

 the same sort sown in spring. This shows that 

 it is a good practice to sow some seeds in the fall. 

 Of those which are found to succeed well so 

 treated, we note the following : — Adonis, Double 

 Balsam, Larkspur, Candytuft, Clarkia, Eryssi- 

 mum, Mimulas, Perilla, Forget-me-Not, Portu- 

 lacca, Petunia, Coreopsis, Sun-flower, Calliopsis, 

 Drummondi, Delphinium ajacis humile, Escholt- 

 zia, Nigella Hiepanica, &c, These may be sown 

 any time in the latter part of August and to the 

 middle of September. 



r. Johnson wisely said: "He who waits 

 to do a great deal of good at once, will never do 

 anything." Take the hint; take it home and 

 work. Whatsoever your hands find to do, do it. 



