THE WHEAT CTJLTUKIST. 



165 



practical observations in the field, we learn that certain 

 canses produce certain effects, whether those effects are 

 attributable to silica or to the presence of some other 

 substance that enters into the formation of the straw 

 of cereal grain. The facts stand out with remarkable 

 prominence ; and whether chemists are able to explain 

 the phenomena on principles strictly philosophical or 

 not, practical farmers may avail themselves of the ob- 

 servations and apply the knowledge to the augmenta- 

 tion of the crop of grain by cultivating and di'essing 

 the soil so as to produce stiff straw that will maintain 

 an erect position till the grain is fully ripe. When 

 cereal grain is grown on a sandy soil where wood-ashes 

 have been scattered in liberal profusion, the straw is 

 always exceedingly stiff. Almost every practical farm- 

 er has observed how rank and stiff the straw of wheat 

 and oats will always grow where a brush heap or log 

 heap has been burned to ashes. On many wheat fields 

 in all parts of the country, the grain growing Avhere a 

 coal-pit was formed, perhaps forty years ago, will stand 

 erect, the straw being very stiff", while the straw on every 

 side of the old coal-bed is too limber to maintain an 

 erect position. When wood-ashes have been spread 

 upon the soil in large quantities grain seldom lodges, 

 especially if there is only a small proportion of sand, 

 or gravel, or argillaceous or calcareous matter in the 

 soil. Where a ditch is cut through a mucky soil rest- 

 ing on a subsoil of clay or sandy loam, and only a 

 small quantity of this material is mingled with the sur- 

 face soil, the growing grain will maintain an erect posi- 

 tion much longer than the grain on either side where 

 there is no clay or sand mingled with the muck. With 

 these facts before our minds, a farmer who has only a 



