LE COUTEUR ON WHEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 57, 10 September 1872, Page 3

LE COUTEUR ON WHEAT.

SrcCF.ssruL Farming depends upon attention to details It is comparatively e.isy to learn the leading principles by which we must abide, but the important issue, profit or loss, w : U be according as we look after or neglect the small matters which are daily coining to the front. The selection of good seed, such as is the best of its kind for our purpose, and most suitable to climate and soil, and above all such as is t rue to the sort, and therefore likely to germinate and ripen evenly. —These are mat ters of detail which claim most careful attention, since the difference of crop according to seed is really astonishing. English farmers are not, as a rule, very particular as to the kind of wheat they grow, and careless as to the person of whom they procure the seed. Mr. llallett proved what could be done in the way of yield by using a carefully-selected seed. We only regret that his experiments were made upon a radically bad sort. The pedigree wheat was dfcseribdd as an Improved Nureerv, because the original ear was selected out of a field of Nursery wheat. We believe it was a coarse kind known as Kissingland, n very weak wheat, and entirely different, in every respect, from Nursery, which is perhaps the very finest of red wheats. The result, of a few years' growth of Hallett has not been satisfactory ; hence one reason why farmers as a rule are too careless as to their seed.

A valuable pamphlet lias recently been published " On I ha Varieties, Properties, and Classification of Wheat," by Colonel Le Couteur, of Belle Yuo, Jersey, in which he gives the results of experiments carried 011 for a number of years, and first given to the public in 1836. It was Professor La Gases, of the Royal Gardens, Madrid, who first drew Colonel Le Coufeur's attention to the subject by pointing out 23 different varieties in crops which previously he had thought to be pure. To prove how injurious such a variety must be, experiments were carried out", which shewed that the difference iu ripening of some of the sorts was as much as three weeks. We must refer our readers to the workitself (published by W. J. Johnson 121, Fleet street, E.C.) for full particulars, and can onlv glance at the experiments. The first point that deserves notice is the fact that thick seeding accelerates germination. The sortssown at the usual rate—viz., from 2 to 3 bushels per acfe —appeared above ground in Seventeen clays, whereas single grains came up two days later. In the process of germination the chemical action set up ! causes some heat to be evolved ; hence the,effect of.thick sowing in hastening growth. The difference of, yield as shewn by these experiments was really most remarkable, Dantzic and a Downy variety yielded double the crop of one sort and much mor6 than several othei's. It is well to note that the worst--, yielding sort of the fourteerifrledloofced and was taken, from its jwuarey opmpaet appearand to'be s a* heavy yiclder. * These experiments demonstrate* the? each: mail proving for, himself what is f the best kind of whe&fc grow.'' A fewctfrefuily-con-ducled experiments with pure seed would settle this question- According to Colonel Le Couteur's inves-

ligations, it is evident that a farmer sowing the worstyie.'d:ng variety in a so : l capable of growing the be.it would be a great loner; and, moreover, those who carelessly use mixed seeds must suffer accord ng to the proportion of the lean-productive sorts.

Our author d'-ects attention to the quality of different kinds of wheat. The yield of fine flour and bran differs between the best and worst kinds in quite as marked a manner as the produce—his white Dantz:c bearing the J eaviest corn but one, and producing the largest projx rtion of flour and the least bran ; but the flour of a Downy variety, No 8 in the experiments, and which welded more than the Dantzic, produced the greatest weight of bread, as the following figures will show : Of flic Downy sort 181b. of /lour, with half-pint of yeast, 5$ quaits water, and lose, of salt, made 20lb. of beautiful wlrte bread. The same weight of spring wheat flour made 241b. of inferior brownish bread. The same weight of P stock and Danish flour from wheat grov .1 in the Baltic made on'y 231b. of bread, very light and good, but not ho white by many shade , or well-flavoured, as that made ■ om the two first varieties of home growth. We have capital illustrations of root growth, with sensible remarks as to the depth at which the crops should be sown. The chapter on manures consists pj'nc'p.dly of quotations om essays in the Journal of U>", Jioyal A<jri dUtinU Soci 7y and experiments by Mr. Lawcs. With regard to change of seed, the writer has found that the same benefit occurs by using the same seed and changing the manure. Thus, wheat grown with farm-yard manure answers well on land where l ; 'ne is used ; that again for land dressed with

lies, and so on. This is a rather novel idea, and worth a little investigation. Our own experience suggests a more decided change—i.e. fVom sods of a totally different character, as chalk land seeds for gravels and clay, seed from peaty soils for loams. There is th : s great advantage in the Colonel's planviz., that the careful cultivator can : usure pure and vigorous seed.

There can be no doubt as to the advantage of using good seed —strength of constitution is perpetuated, just as in animals, by the repeated influence of good sorts. From the best seed it is calculated that onetenth perishes, and iVom bad, sickly seed aj much as 50 per cent has been destroyed ; hence it is of great importance to have healthy seed, and also to employ such varieties as are adapted to particular soils and climate. We remember to have seen the first growth of a magnificent Australian wheat in this country. The result was a perfect failure ; the crop, which grew luxuriously in the spring, was blighted, and the grain poor and shrivelled. No doubt by degrees the crop would have become acclimatised, and, though much altered by the process, might have made a valuable variety,

Col. Le Couteur suggests that the growth of seed corn should be a distinct business, and would like to see farms set apart for the purpose. The business of the grower would be to find out and cultivate only such sorts as a"e suitable for the local'l3*. This would be an excellent arrangement, but unfortunately the ignorance of the farming community as to the value of good seed would stand in the way ; the generality would not pay the extra price required to cover the expense of careful growth. However, it is worth a trial. The concluding chapters contain a calculation as to the result of using good seed, the best of its kind, and the sorts most suitable for the soil, and it is shewn that great would be the increase. Of course it is assumed, for the sake of argument, that the present, vic-d is f••om carelessly selected seed. This, in reality, is only partially true; many of our best farmers in each district are quite awake to the value of good seed, and will not sow bad sorts. There can be no doubt, however, that the argument is a sound one, and we commend the subject to the careful consideration of English farmers. Good seed must be regarded as an important element, without which correct management in every other respect will not be successful. —Field.