EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1004, 2 March 1883, Page 4

EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT.

Professor Blount, of the State Agricultural- College, {Port Collins, Colorado, in a communication to the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, gives some information with regard to the cultivation of wheat that may be of service to some of pur agricultural friends. The Professor has been experimenting with wheat for over 12 years, and at the time of his writing be had under cultivation 181 different varieties, the seed of which he bad received from every and all natipns/of the world. In reading the reports- of the Society’s “ Transactions,” the Professor says he was astonished to learn that the Scotch farmers sow so : much, seed three bushels per acre. "If evenly and regularly distributed, he says, such thick sowing places about four kernels of wheat ;upon every square inch of land ; whereas he found it. took 16 square inches for a kernel to carry out its habits of growth according to the unchangeable laws of nature. When room enough is given,every perfect grainof wh eat will produce, in good soil, from 10 to 150 tillers. He has raised 182 good heads from one kernel without any subdivision whatever, and these heads made 7602 kernels, an average of 42 to the head. The Professor argues that by giving wheat room to carry out its habits of growth, and thereby letting in the sun, not only are rnst and mildews obviated, bnt strong heads, heavy grains and strong stalks are secured. The Professor finds that 80lb of seed will produce more and better results than a larger quantity, when sown at the right time. One grain in 4in. square will produce more and better grain than four grains in one square inch. The greatest enemy, he says, to wheat is wheat. For experimental purposes he sows 101b to 201b only per acre, and has never failed in the 12 years with that amount of seed to secure from 40 to 90 bushels per acre ; once (in 1876) planted and cultivated on an exact acre, gave 67 bushels and 171b. Last season, 28oz on exactly 42 square rods, gave 18 bushels 61b. The wheat was sown in drills 2ft apart,; and cultivated twice.