14 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
PROPER TIME FOR CUTTING WHEAT. 
The readers of the Cultivator will recollect that we 
gave in the volume for 1841, page 127, some interesting 
experiments made by our correspondent, J. Hannam, 
Esq. North Deighton, Yorkshire, England, on this sub¬ 
ject, which excited much attention; and in which he an¬ 
nounced his intention of more fully carrying out the ex¬ 
periments upon which he considered himself as having 
but just entered. In the last No. of the Quarterly Journal 
of Agriculture, we find a most valuable, and as we con¬ 
ceive, conclusive paper on the subject of cutting wheat; 
being the result of the promised experiments, and which, 
as its length forbids our inserting it entire, we shall con¬ 
dense for our columns, in the tables omitting such frac¬ 
tions as have no important bearing on the question. 
In the former case, Mr. H. selected only three speci¬ 
mens for trial, or specimens cut at three different times; 
in the present instance, five different cuttings, as follows: 
No. 1, reaped Aug. liJth, stacked Aug. 26th. 
No. 2, ■ “ J9th, “ “ 31st. 
No. 3, “ “ 26th, “ Sept. 5th. 
No. 4, “ “ 30th, “ “ 9th. 
No. 6, “ Sept. 9th, “ “ 16th. 
At stacking the several parcels, a sheaf was taken from 
each, for the purpose of exhibiting samples at the Fair 
of the Wetherby Ag. Society, and the Show of the High¬ 
land Ag. Society. We ought to have stated that 20 
perches of wheat, grown on soil of the same quality, and 
the same kind of grain, were reaped at each cutting. No. 
1 was very green, only fully formed in the berry, and 
raw; No 5 was fully ripe. No. 5, in the sample, was 
bold, but coarse; while Nos. 1 and 2, were finer in the 
skin, but small, showing they had shrunk some. The 
raw cut No. 3, was unexceptionable, being as plump as 
No. 5, and superior to 1 and 2, in thinness and uniform 
clearness of skin. There was little difference between 3 
and 4, except that the last was more rough than the first. 
In February, the whole of each specimen was care¬ 
fully threshed and cleaned under the immediate superin¬ 
tendence of Mr. H., as indeed was performed every oth¬ 
er step of the process. The following shows the result 
as regards quantity: 
weight 11 St. 12 lb. and straw, 22 st. 7 lb. 
list. lib. “ 21st. 31b. 
15 St. 10 lb. “ 20 St. Sib. 
16 St. 6 1b. “ 19 St. 21b. 
14 St. 13 1b. “ ISst.Olb. 
Mr. Hannan now proceeded to test the value of the se¬ 
veral specimens for milling, and each kind was ground 
and dressed by Mr. Hardcastle, one of the best and most 
experienced millers of the county of York, and the result 
was as below: 
No. 1, gave 2| bush. 
No. 2, “ 2,^ “ 
No. 3, “ “ 
No. 4, 3 11-16 “ 
No. 6, “ 3i “ 
No. 
Gross 
quantity. 
Weight 
of Grain. 
Weiuht 
of Flour. 
Pollard. 
Bran. 
Waste. 
Bushels. 
St. 
lb. 
St. 
lb. 
St. 
lb. 
St. 
lb. 
1 
24 
11 
12 
8 
12 
12 
2 
1 
1 
2 
2i 
11 
1 
8 
6 
11 
1 
11 
1 
3 
3.^ 
15 
10 
12 
6 
12 
2 
1 
ft 
4 
3 11-16 
16 
6 
12 
3 
1 
3 
2 
5 
9 
6 
• 3-4 
14 
13 
10 
11 
1 
9 
2 
5 
2 
From the above table, the quantity of flour, seconds 
or pollard,and bran, per bushel of the wheat, may be de¬ 
duced as follows, fractions omitted: 
No. Flour. Pollard. Bran. Weight per bnshel. 
1 45 4 10 60 
2 47 4 10 62 
3 49 3 8 62 6-7 
4 46 4 8 62 
5 43 6 9 69 5-7 
The same table gives the per cent of flour, seconds, 
and bran; or the quantity of each that 100 lbs. of grain 
would yield, fractions omitted: 
No. Flour. Seconds. Bran. 
1 75 lbs. 7 lbs. 17 lbs 
2 76 7 16 
3 80 5 13 
4 77 7 14 
6 72 11 15 
It thus appears that No. 3, is superior to all the other 
varieties; giving more per bushel than No. 5, by OJ lbs. 
of flour; and a gain of about 15 per cent on the flour of 
equal measures of grain. 100 lbs. of wheat No. 3, makes 
80 lbs. of flour; while 100 lbs. of No. 5, yields 72 lbs. 
showing an advantage of 8 per cent in favor of grain cut 
raw. 
In grinding, it was found that No. 5 ground the worst, 
worse than No. 1. In No. 5, were a greater quantity of 
flinty particles which would not pass the bolt, than in any 
of the others. The bran from No. 5, was coarse and 
heavy; while that from No. 3, was “thin as a bees’ 
wing.” 
The flour from the various wheats, w^as worth at the 
time, 2s. 6d. per stone, the pollard Is. 3d. and the bran 
iOd. per stone. Taking the straw at the current value of 
2d. per stone, real value of the respective cuttings will 
stand thus: 
Total value of the product of twenty perches, 
No. 1,. ^1 8s. 7|d. 
No. 2,.. 17 7^ 
No. 3,. 1 17 3 
No. 4,. 1 17 2 
No. 5,---.. 113 IQ 
An estimate of the value per acre, founded on the fore¬ 
going calculations, gives for the value of an acre of 
No. 1. Cut a month before fully ripe,. £11 9S. 2d. 
No. 2. Cut three weeks “ “ . 10 16 4 
No. 3. Cut a fortaight “ “ . 14 IS 0 
No. 4. Cut ten days ‘‘ “ . 14 17 4 
No. 6. Cut ripe “ “ . 13 11 8 
The difference in quantity between Nos. 1 and 2, and 
No. 5, amounting to a bushel on 20 perches, Mr. H. 
thinks was more owing to the pillage of birds, (it being 
the earliest cut wheat in the neighborhood,) than to ac¬ 
tual shrinkage, though the latter was considerable. To 
settle this point of shrinkage, he instituted an ingenious 
course of experiment with glass tubes and water, to de¬ 
termine the relative size of the berry of each kind. A 
number of these determined that between 3, 4, and 5, 
there was no difference; while it required of No. 1, 
1,110 grains to displace as much water as 910 grains of 
either of these, and of No. 2, 1,005 grains. The actual 
value per acre, determined in this way, slightly changed 
the relative value of Nos. 1 and 2, making the first ^11, 
17s. Od, and the second £13, 6s. Od. Thus there was an 
actual loss per acre, of the green wheat No. 1, of £1, 
14s. 8d, compared with No. 5; and of No. 2, a loss of 
5s. 8d. per acre,compared wfith the same standard. On the 
other hand. No. 3, or that cut raw, showed a gain of £1, 
6s. 4d. compared with the ripe, and of £3, Is. per acre, 
as compared with the green No. 1. 
At this point of his experiments, Mr. Hannam thus 
sums up the advantages, or rather profits of cutting wheat 
in a raw state, or a fortnight before it is fully ripe, rather 
than letting it stand till that period: 
1st. A gain of 15 per cent of flour upon equal measures. 
2d. A gain in the weight of straw of 14 per cent. 
3d. A gain of 7s. 6d. in the value of every quarter of wheat. 
4tli. A gain of £1, 6s. 4d. upon every acre producing 28 bush. 
The actual value of flour for the purpose of nutrition, 
depending in a great measure on the gluten it contains, a 
sample of Nos. 3 and 5, was analyzed by Prof. Johnston, 
and he found them to contain respectively. No. 3, 9.15 
per cent of gluten; No. 5, 8.9 per cent of gluten. Thus 
proving that the wheat which gave the greatest quantity 
of flour, gave also the best. 
It is unnecessary to pursue the able investigation of 
Mr. Hannam, farther. The result may be thus stated in 
his own words: “With an additional quantity of flour 
and straw, already considered, we have a better quality 
of both, a better chance of securing them, and a saving in se¬ 
curing them.^’ 
In this country, the subject of the proper time for cut¬ 
ting wheat is deriving great importance from the lia¬ 
bility of its being attacked by the mildew or rust; the 
evil of which might in a great measure be avoided, 
should experience prove that raw or even green wheat 
would lose less when cut, than when allowed to stand, 
after such attack. As having a direct bearing on this 
subject we may mention the following. A farming 
friend of ours, growing wheat extensively, found last 
season, that one of his fields of wheat, then in a very raw 
or green state, was badly struck with rust. He deter¬ 
mined to cut it at once, and did so, amid the laugh, or 
the pity of his neighbors, who thought him little less 
than crazy. The adjoining field suffered little from rust, 
and stood till fully ripe, yet at threshing the wheat first 
cut gave the finest wheat and the best yield. Mr. Han¬ 
nam mentions a similar instance in which it was remark¬ 
ed of a farmer who was cutting his wheat early, that he 
“had cut grass, and stacked muck,” yet when threshed, 
it yielded four bushels per acre more than it was estima¬ 
ted at, and was sold for the highest price in the market. 
In this country, the same reason, arising from bad wea¬ 
ther or a late harvest, does not exist here for early cut¬ 
ting, as in England, but there are others which render 
the subject of little less interest here than there; and the 
agricultural public of both countries, are certainly much 
indebted to Mr. Hannam, for the skill and perseverance 
with which he has pursued these investigations in all 
their parts. _ 
SOWING CORN BROADCAST FOR SOILING, &c. 
“ In 1839 and ’40, I sowed corn in drills for green fod¬ 
der. The last and the present year, sowed southern 
white corn broadcast, followed by the harrow and roller. 
Aug. 6th, with a careful hand, cut and weighed the corn 
on one square yard. The product gave at the rate of 52 
tons and a fraction to the acre. Aug. 19th, for the pur¬ 
pose of testing the correctness of the estimate made on 
the 6th, and also of satisfying myself what might be ex¬ 
pected from ground in proper condition to plant for the 
grain—with a careful and judicious person to assist, we 
measured and weighed with much care, and found the 
production was at the rate of 65 tons and a fraction to the 
acre. 
August 22d, cut and weighed,. 229 lbs. 
Sept. 28, the same weighed,. 71 
Loss, . 158 
Or 69 per cent; giving-, say 20 tons of di-y fodder to the 
acre—^which if well cured, is considered by some equal 
to 10 tons upland hay. Three bushels of seed, allowing 
some for the crows, is sufficient.” 
Mr. J. J. Marshall, of Conn., gives the result of an ex¬ 
periment made by him the past season, in the Farmers’ 
Gazette. He sowed five-eighths of an acre, on land well 
prepared, at the rate of 4 bushels of common seed corn 
per acre, on the 18th of June, and covered with a small 
turning plow, very shallow. July 21st, the corn was be¬ 
tween five and six feet high, and began to lodge. It 
continued to grow, except that immediately on the 
ground, which rotted, till it began to ripen, when on the 
19th September, it was cut with grass blades and weed¬ 
ing hoes. The product was at the rate of 44,367 lbs. per 
acre. The product of one square yard, where the corn 
was not lodged, was at the rate of 130,680 lbs. per acre. 
Fed out in the ordinary way in which cured corn 
stalks are usually fed, a large portion of them, and that 
the most valuable, is lost; but when cut, as they should 
be, in a straw cutter, the whole will be eat, and prove 
the most nourishing of foods. When corn is sowed for 
soiling or curing, it should be on rich ground, early in 
the season, or so that it may have the advantage of the 
hot months, both for growing and curing. Curing at a 
late period, would be difficult if not impossible. 
MR. MILLER’S REPORT. 
We are gratified to learn from various sources, that 
the experiment so strongly recommended by Mr. Ells¬ 
worth, of the Patent Office, Washington, from his own 
experience, of sowing Indian corn for fodder, has been 
repeated by many farmers the present season, and in eve¬ 
ry instance that we have learned, with the best success. 
In a visit to the farms of Mr. Bement, and Mr. So- 
tham, near this city, last autumn, both these gentlemen 
mentioned the subject to us, and stated that the quantity 
of food so produced, exceeded their highest expectations, 
and besides was of the very best and most nourishing 
quality. It was used in soiling. Had they seen fit to 
have cut and cured it for winter’s use, and then cut it 
with a chaff or straw cutter, it is evident that nothing 
could have made a better food for almost any of our do¬ 
mestic animals. 
John Welles, Esq. of Natick, Mass, has given in the 
N. E. Farmer of Sept., an account of an experiment made 
by him this season, in sowing corn, which was most sa¬ 
tisfactory. One kind of corn used by him, was the com¬ 
mon sweet or sugar corn. At the appearance of the 
spindle, the corn was cut, (Aug. 22,) and the yield was 
13 tons, 1225 lbs. per acre. Another kind of corn was 
the Southern flat corn, sowed in rows. This was talcen 
at the time of spindling, and the product was little over 
21 tons to the acre. Mr. Welles ascertained by experi¬ 
ments made at different periods, that after spindling, there 
was a decrease of weight. 
In an editorial article in the same paper on this sub¬ 
ject, it is stated that “ several years since, the editor’s 
father weighed the produce of one square rod of rich 
land, sowed with southern corn in drills, and obtained 
about 37 tons per acre; and last week his brother, in 
Wenham, weighed the stalks from one square rod, simi¬ 
larly planted, but the ground less rich, and obtained at 
the rate of between 21 and 22 tons per acre.” 
In the N. E. Farmer, of Oct. 12, we have the follow¬ 
ing statement from Mr. Geo. Denny, of Westboro, Mass.: 
We have been favored with a Report made by Wm. 
Milleb, Esq. one of the delegates from the Henrico, 
Va. Ag. Society, to the late meeting of the N. Y. Ag. 
Society, at Albany, embodying his impressions of that 
meeting, and of the agriculture of the north generally, 
as far as it fell under his notice. We are able to give 
but a brief synopsis of the Report. The show of cattle 
and sheep, Mr. Miller thought very good, but the hor¬ 
ses and hogs nothing to boast of. The straw cutter of 
Messrs. Botts & Burfoot, of Richmond, he considered 
superior in some respects to the northern ones, particu¬ 
larly for the south, in which opinion, the Committee of 
the Society, it appears, concurred with him. He also 
thinks the Virginia plows bettter adapted to their use, 
than the northern ones. Mr. Miller remarks that the in¬ 
troduction of threshing machines, and the small amount 
of hoed crops cultivated at the north, has deprived the 
southern farmer of the advantage he once possessed of 
getting his grain into market earlier than the northern 
one. The farmer of New-York frequently threshes his 
wheat as soon as it is cut, as he has no hoed crops, such 
as coi-n and tobacco to work over as the Virginia one 
has, and which he is obliged to attend to as soon as his 
wheat is harvested. Consequently the first gets his 
wheat into market, as early, or earlier than the last. 
Mr. Miller recommends an entire change in their sys¬ 
tem, and says that to achieve this, the best method will 
be to follow the footsteps of their northern brethren. 
The three field system generally pursued in Virginia, he 
condemns as destructive, and recommends in its stead, 
one of six. To illustrate his meaning, he gives for ex¬ 
amples, two farms he visited near Lancaster; one of 40 
acres, divided into eight fields, was cropped as follows; 
5 acres in corn, product 300 bushels. 
10 
il 
wheat. 
a 
340 “ 
5 
oats. 
300 “ 
6 
a 
rye. 
n 
100 a failure. 
10 
n 
hay. 
a 
30 tons. 
5 
(( 
pasture. 
40 
30 
60 
40 
it 
it 
it 
Mr. Myers’ farm, 1| miles from Lancaster, had 200 
acres of land divided and cropped as follows: 
30 acres in corn, 50 bushels per acre, 1,500 bushels, 
wheat, 30 “ 1,200 “ 
oats, 60 “ 1,600 “ 
hay, Ij tons “ 90 tons, 
pasture. 
Mr. Miller adds:—“Their farmers universally pur¬ 
sue the same system; every field is separated by fences. 
Corn, then oats, then wheat, then rye, then clover and 
timothy; they fallow one oat field, and one clover field 
for wheat, and they apply their manure to their wheat 
land, either plowing it in, or harrowing it in with their 
wheat. They use lime and plaster freely. So far are 
we behind the north in our improving system, that I 
consider we are fast asleep; and from what I learned 
whilst at the north, I concluded if we did not rouse one 
another, not many years would pass before the northern 
people would do it, and call upon us, as unjust stewards, 
to surrender our homes to those who would give a bet-' 
ter account of their stewardship. The population of the 
north are very restless, and will emigrate wherever they 
can better their condition. Already some of them are 
making the experiment,by purchasing a large tract of land 
near Alexandria. I can draw no more appropriate com¬ 
parison of the two sections of the country, than by com- 
