DOES WHEAT TURN TO CHESS? 41 



from oats." This was repeatedly planted, and 

 gradually improved, producing an improved variety 

 of barley which was extensively cultivated. 



The above experiment was performed by Mr. 

 Elkins of Bluntisham, in Huntingdonshire. Other 

 similar cases are recorded. 



No longer ago than 1885 Mr. C. S. Read, a well 

 known farmer, agricultural writer, and member of 

 Parliament, stated ^ that he had known oats which 

 were kept cut during the first year, and protected 

 by a covering of straw during the winter, to pro- 

 duce the next year other kinds of grain — in one 

 case wheat, in another rye, and in another barley. 

 The editor of the journal in which this report is 

 published, who is also a botanist, states, naturally 

 enough, that he is astounded that such beliefs 

 should still be held by persons of intelligence; 



It seems incredible that anyone should have over- 

 looked the fact that the oats, which are known to 

 be liable to die out during winter, might have be^n 

 replaced in the above experiments the next year by 

 plants of other grain from seed contained in the 

 straw with which the oats were covered. At least 

 one experiment is recorded, however,^ in which 

 oats safely passed the winter without protection and 

 produced a good crop of pure oats the next season. 



lOardenera' Chronicle, 18S5, p. D33. 



SP. Grieve, iii Gardeners' CUrqnicle, 1875, p. 723, 



