368 
[Assemb 
to wit :—That when a kernel of wheat is buried to the depth of 
about three inches, it sends a single stem upwards, which, within 
an inch of the surface forms a crown, sending from that point a tuft 
of fibrous roots downwards, and a tuft of blades upwards ; these be¬ 
come the main roots and stalks, if undisturbed. But if these be de¬ 
stroyed by the fly, a new set of shoots and roots start directly from 
the deep buried kernel, and these latter shoots are never attacked 
by the fly. A kernel but slightly covered, on the other hand, sends 
up its blades at once directly from the seed ; if these be attacked 
therefore, the whole is destroyed. Such is a brief but plain state¬ 
ment, we believe, of the argument of the King William Farmer. 
In other words, seed slightly covered can send up but a single set 
of shoots, and being attacked by the fly, the whole perishes ; but 
seed deeply buried can send up a double set of shoots ; those first 
appearing are attacked and destroyed ; those which thereupon start 
directly from the seed are never infested by the fly. Admitting the 
facts to be as set forth, it amounts to this, that by deeply covering, 
the same quantity of seed in reality produces two crops; one, which 
is speedily harvested by the fly ; and the other, gathered at a later 
day by human hands. To this procedure we have two objections. 
By adopting it, you do nothing whatever towards destroying the in¬ 
sect or frustrating it in the least in its operations. On the contrary, 
you aim to provide food for it. You cherish it. You, in effect, say 
to it, “ be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.” True, by 
giving it what it wants, it leaves us as much more. But it is rather 
humiliating to us “ lords of creation” to rear crops “ at the halves” 
and place ourselves in the rank of mere tenants to so ignoble a land¬ 
lord ! Again, this measure only shields us against the autumnal at¬ 
tack-. It does nothing against that of the following spring. Nay, 
by providing so well for the first generation, it tends to make the 
second generation more numerous, and the spring attack conse¬ 
quently more severe. Thus much upon the supposition that the 
facts are precisely as set forth by the King William Farmer. That 
he sincerely believed them to be correct, and that he was perfectly 
honest in the selection of the specimens which he forwarded to Mr. 
Garnett, we do not in the least doubt. Indeed the encomium which 
Mr. G. has written upon the character of his friend, must forever 
place him above all suspicions of insincerity or of anything approach- 
