608 TVorks 07i Gardening, SfCo 



" No writer has yet called the attention of the agricultural world to the 

 cultivation of pure sorts, originating from one single grain. It is contended 

 that this has been the root of all evil." 



" The learned Professor had been theoretically employed in the classification 

 and scientific examination of wheat as a plant, in the research and consider- 

 ation of all its varieties ; but it had escaped him to consider it in its properties 

 with relation to the food of man. This practical view the author took of it, 

 and he determined to attempt to discover which were the most farinaceous 

 and productive varieties, by comparing their characters and produce, one with 

 another." 



The great value of Colonel Le Couteur's conclusions consists 

 in his having combined the consideration of quality, as w^ell as 

 quantity, in his researches; and accordingly, in the tabular 

 views vi^hich he has given of his experiments, some varieties are 

 proved to be remarkable for the length, strength, and weight of 

 their straw ; others for the weight of their grain, and the number 

 of loaves that may be made from a bushel of the flour; some 

 for the colour of the grain, &c. ; some varieties are tender and 

 late, and others hardy and earl}^, and so on. But we must refer 

 the agriculturist to Colonel Le Couteur's pamphlet. From Mr. 

 Lawson of Edinburgh, M. Vilmorin of Paris, or Mr. Charl- 

 wood of London, we believe that seeds of the best varieties may 

 be procured in moderate quantities. 



We have said enough, we trust, to show that Colonel Le 

 Couteur has rendered a very important service to the growers of 

 wheat, not only in Britain, but in every part of the world, where 

 that grain is cultivated ; and we only wish that British farmers 

 had sufficient acuteness and nicety of calculation, to benefit from 

 the facts which he has elicited by experiment. In the mean 

 time, we trust that Colonel Le Couteur will prosecute his re- 

 searches, and that other scientific agriculturists will take up the 

 subject as he has done, in different parts of the country. 



The following extract from a letter lately received from 

 Colonel Le Couteur will give an idea of the nicety of calcu- 

 lation that is requisite to the thorough understanding of the im- 

 portance of the subject. We introduce it not only because we 

 know that a number of agriculturists read our Magazine, as well 

 as gardeners, but also because we think it will teach the young 

 gardener to apply this kind of calculation to subjects connected 

 with his profession : for example, to the weight and quality of 

 vegetables cut green, and to roots, fruits, &c. 



" It is surprising how seriously the seasons affect wheat, though in the 

 b^st soils, and those soils under careful preparation. No. L (Jersey Dantzic), 

 of which, in 1833, 27 grains weighed a scruple, this year required 33 to make 

 that weight. No. 2. (Small Round) is still smaller : in 1833, 28 grains 

 weighed 1 scruple, but in 1837, it required 40. No. 5, in 1833, required 

 20 grains for 1 scruple, and in 1837, 30 grains. No. 8, in 1833, required 

 23 grains to make 1 scruple, but in 1836, 24 grains. The Triticum sestivum 

 var. Talavera bellevuensis is the only sort which remains at 19 grains to a 

 scruple. This difference in the weight of grains to a given quantity, carried 

 on to a bushel, next to a quarter, then to an acre, and lastly to the produce 



