24 Experiments on Varieties of Wheat. 



me, is as follows : — They have been dibbled upon a stitch (fur- 

 row-slice) of land, in the centre of a 12-acre enclosure, sowing 

 three grains in each hole, average distance 5 in. from each other. 

 They have been managed precisely alike, and no other distinction 

 made than their division by labels ; and, to prove their respec- 

 tive merits, they have been tested with all the most approved 

 British varieties, including the Chevalier, the Whittington, and 

 my own White Cluster. The result of last year's experience is 

 corroborated. by this ; viz. that there is a considerable advantage 

 in the cultivation of some kinds in preference to others ; and, if 

 the number of acres sown with inferior kinds (which are pre- 

 ferred by the bakers, in consequence of their yielding a meal 

 which rises better in bread) were sown with the superior kinds, 

 the advantage would be immense to the population at large. The 

 only fault complained of in the new kinds, which are certainly 

 much more productive, is, that the flour made from them does not 

 rise in the loaf; a trifle always obviated by the London bakers by 

 the addition of a harmless substitute. I have much reduced the 

 collection, as I could not discover any more than twenty- two dis- 

 tinct varieties, instead of fifty-eight; added to which, fifteen of 

 British make thirty-seven kinds, which is a rather numerous col- 

 lection. It must be admitted that, among the white sorts, the new 

 kinds of British, more especially the White Cluster, are superior 

 in quality and quantity ; Brown's ranks second, and Whittington 

 third. The red-chaffed wheats are not, by any means, equal to 

 the white ones ; but yet the Cone and Revel are two kinds which 

 have proved much superior to the British in productiveness, 

 though not in quality ; they are also certainly much more robust, 

 and better set in the ear; but seasons vary, and it requires some 

 years before an accurate judgment can be formed of their respec- 

 tive merits. — Sawbridgeworth, Oct. 18. 1838. 



Art. VI. Notice of an Experiment made xviih Four Seeds of Wheat, 

 sown in June, 1836. Extracted from a Letter received from Mr. 



GORRIE. 



I may take this opportunity of thanking you for four seeds 

 of wheat, which you had from Dr. Hamilton, in June, 1836, and 

 which you kindly forwarded to me with the doctor's note, ex- 

 pressing a wish that they might be sown immediately, to try 

 and get seed that season. In compliance, I put one seed in a pot 

 in a hot-bed, which came up weak, and ultimately mildewed. 

 One seed I dropped in the open ground : this came up strong, 

 with exceedingly long leaves ; but, in September, it did not appear 

 to run to seed ; I therefore cut it over close by the ground, and 

 left it to withstand the rigours of winter. It survived, and last 

 spring tillered beautifully, and grew unusually tall; it showed 

 a fine long ear bearded : and, although called the Black-jointed 



