122 



Pure and improved Varieties of 



In some cases I have sown the clovers and grasses after the 

 second hoeing, but always, I am inclined to think, at some ex- 

 pense to the wheat crop ; the coronal roots of which may be 

 deprived of a share of their nutriment when the grass seeds begin 

 to draw nourishment from the soil, and the thousands of mouths 

 which they present may deprive the wheat of much pure air, and 

 themselves exhale gases which may be injurious to the plants. 



Nothing can be more apparent than the sudden check wheat 

 sometimes receives at the moment the grasses appear to take pos- 

 session of a portion of the juices of the earth, which probably 

 should be entirely devoted to the nutriment of so valuable a crop 

 as wheat. This is of itself an inquiry well worthy the nicest in- 

 vestigation. 



The following sorts I have also grovm experimentally, but not 

 having raised them in quantities sufficient to warrant a positive 

 opinion, which probably might only tend to mislead, they are 

 merely named. It is to be observed that a little calculation might 

 have offered all the replies required by the conditions stated in the 

 margins : — 



The Golden Drop" is one of the best red wheats, affording 

 great produce in corn and straw, and a larger quantity of flour 

 than some white wheats. 



Hickling's " Prolific Red" is a productive variety, but rather 

 coarse. 



Brown s Ten-rowed Chevalier," or prolific, is well named, 

 where it suits the soil and climate ; it has borne a fine crop with 

 me, but it unfortunately has sported much into a pale red sort, 

 owing no doubt to the seed which I obtained from Mr. Brown 

 himself having been accidentally impregnated by a red sort ; it 

 is, when pure, a very fine variety. 



Gale's Hampshire" is an enormously productive sort of 

 bearded wheat, which may be hereafter described. 



Essex Red." A very good variety. 



The Duck's Bill" wheat is very productive^ but shedding 

 greatly, and not very farinaceous. 



J. Le Couteur. 



Belle- Vue, Jersey ^ 

 December, 1838. 



In order to present the particular points of comparison between 

 the four principal varieties forming the subject of this Essay, at 

 one glance^ the results are appended in a tabular form. 



