310 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



variation of climate. I have derived benefit 

 from changes of seed brought from a considera- 

 ble distance on every side, to the extent of hun- 

 dreds of mileSj but it was from seed on which 

 I could depend. My favorite change is from 

 a cold, chalky district to a mild, loamy soil. 



The principal consideration with every far- 

 mer should be fully to ascertain the adaptation 

 of his farm to grow the two fundamental va- 

 rieties of wheat — red wheat and white wheat — 

 for which it is best adapted — or, if it will ad- 

 vantageously produce both under a judicious 

 rotation. Most wheat farms will alternately 

 grow good crops of fine quality of both varie- 

 ties; but on the other hand, very few farms 

 will produce good and profitable crops of white 

 wheat in long succession ; its liability to dege- 

 nerate and mildew, is much greater than in the 

 red variety. The red wheat is in every respect 

 more hardy, and much more to be depended 

 upon, on the average of soils; hence its more 

 extended cultivation. It will be generally found 

 advantageous on most farms, to deviate occa- 

 sionally from any practice, however well it may 

 appear to answer. No one knows when he has 

 reached the utmost bounds of production; hence 

 white wheat will occasionally produce a first 

 rate crop on lands unsuited to its growth, and 

 as it varies somewhat in its character from red, 

 it forms a desirable change in the rotation. In 

 my own practice, I usually grow the most pro- 

 lific varieties of red wheat as having proved 

 them more profitable ; but I find a change, such 

 as I now name, to be both good for my own 

 profit and the soil it grows upon. I think if 

 the soils are suitable, white wheat should be 

 grown in the proportion of two crops of red to 

 one of white. 



Another consideration should be, to suit the 

 variety to be sown, to the condition and fertility 

 of the soil. A rich soil should be sown with a 

 short-strawed variety — a poor soil with a free- 

 growing long-strawed sort. The season for 

 sowing, should again decide as to the variety. 

 White wheat shoidd not be sown late in the 

 season, or on very rich soils. The red wheat 

 is better adapted for late seasons and rich soils. 

 The straw of the red wheat takes up more silica 

 or flinty nature than the white variety; hence 

 that brightness on the straw of red wheat. 

 This, of itself, is the great cause of its compa- 

 rative safety from that destructive parasite 

 mildew — that black fungus plant so frequently 

 found growing upon the stalks of the wheat 

 plant, and preventing its further progress by 

 taking all the juices designed for the support 

 of the wheat, to promote its own development. 



Having thus shortly given some general out- 

 lines, with a view of directing to a proper choice 



of wheat for seed, I will now offer a remark or 

 two upon its preparation for sowing. It has 

 become a settled conviction in my own mind, 

 that smut in wheat is mainly derivable from 

 the smutty particles sown along with the grain, 

 and by which it becomes tainted or impreg- 

 nated. It is also derived from or propagated 

 by smut deposited in the soil from any previous 

 crop, such as blocks in oats, &c. I have proof 

 of this taint causing smut in more cases than 

 one. The great thing, then, is to destroy the 

 power or influence of this smutty dust. If this 

 can be done without injury to the grain, all the 

 better. Much loss has often ensued from the 

 incautious use of arsenic ("white mercury") 

 and sulphate of copper, ("blue vitriol.") The 

 more simple the remedy, if effectual, the more 

 desirable, and the greater the necessity for its 

 adoption. Frequent washing in clear running 

 streams of water is effectual; strong dressing 

 with hot lime is effectual. These are simple 

 appliances. Swimming in a brine made of salt 

 and water has the twofold effect and advan- 

 tage, of destroying the smut and floating off" 

 all impurities, seeds of weeds, &c. 



There are innumerable specifics put forth for 

 dressing seed wheat, many of which, no doubt, 

 are good and proper; and where any one of 

 them has been adopted and practised with de- 

 cided success, it would be bad policy to discon- 

 tinue its use. My own practice is very simple, 

 safe and easily effected. In the evening prior 

 to the next day's drilling as much wheat as is 

 required, is shot into a heap and well damped 

 with water; it is left for a few minutes to im- 

 bibe the water, and then freely and profusely 

 dusted over with quicklime — such dusting con- 

 tinued as it is repeatedly turned over. The 

 heap is then rounded up, and left till morning; 

 when it is put in sacks ready for drilling. 

 Should the day prove unfavorable, the heap is 

 spread thinly over the floor and in this state it 

 will keep for any indefinite period. I presume 

 it is quite superfluous to intimate that all seed 

 corn should be free from weeds; a good and 

 cleanly farmer would most tlioroughly repu- 

 diate the idea of sowing seeds of weeds. I, 

 however, beg more attention to this point. 

 Never make use of seed wheat containing other 

 seeds. It is said that weeds prevalent in one 

 district will not grow in another; don't try it. 

 I know that the pernicious weed called " Geld- 

 ings," or " Gules," has been thus introduced 

 into a district where, till lately, it was unknown. 

 Weeds will become habituated to any soil; 

 therefore, avoid them as you would a pestilence. 

 If, by some unforeseen or accidental cause, a 

 farmer be induced to make choice of a sample 

 of wheat containing seeds, he should use every 



