2S6 



THE WHEAT CULTTIilST. 



was five inches Mgli, having grown two inches in length 

 between sunrise and snnset. In number five, at sun- 

 down, of the 13th of July, one spear of wheat had come 

 up, after sum'ise, and had grown two inches high. In 

 number six, one spear had grown one inch high during 

 the day. On the 11th of July, in number one. there were 

 eleven spears ; in number two, there were seven : in 

 number three, eight spears ; in number fom-, five spears ; 

 in number five, three spears : in number six, two spears. 

 On the morning of the 15th. one spear more appeared 

 in number one ; one more in number four ; and one 

 more in number six. 



It will be seen by this diary, which I recorded with 

 my own pen, that none of the grain was over eight days 

 in coming up. After waiting for more than two weeks 

 for the plants in number seven, planted seven inches 

 deep, and those in number eight, deposited eight inches 

 below the sm'face, I removed the soil cai'efully, and 

 found a few of the stems neai'ly ready to appeal* above 

 the sm'face of the seed-bed. But, out of the twenty- 

 eight kernels tliat were planted, half of them seven, and 

 the other half eight inches deep, not a vestige could be 

 found of only fom', the stems of which were exceeding- 

 ly feeble and slender ; and for lack of material to form 

 the stem from the kernel to the sm-face, vegetation 

 ceased, and the stems died. What ever became of the 

 other kernels, seems to be a mystery. 



But the experiment demonstrated one point, most 

 conclusively, namely, that if seed wheat be bm*ied too 

 deep, the kernels may germinate. But there ^vill not be 

 sufficient material in the grain to form a healthful and 

 strong stem to the sm'face of the ground. It matters 

 not, what becomes of seed planted seven or eight inches 



