Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-09-03
a9rhuitura1.


- $500
flourish better, were it buried deeper
than il generally is. in addition to these
already suggested. "A gra n ct wheat,
when put into the ground at TIE depth
Of three inches undergoes the following
transformations. As Der as the fsrina
ce matter, which envelopes the frame
of the young plant contained within II,
is softened in the milky state, a germ is
pushed out, and at the bottom OF thst
germ small roots soon follow. The roots
are gathering strength, whilst the germ,
by the aid Of tbs milky fluid is shooting
upwards, and when the milk is exhaus-
ted, the roots are in activity, and are
collecting nsurishment for the plant
frem the soil itself.
"This is analogous to the weaving OF
the young of animals, which ere never
abandoned by the mother I'LL they can
provide Tor themselves, but the care OF
nature dses not end here; when the
gel m has fairly got above the surface,
and become a plant, set efupPer roots
ere thrown sut, close to the surface OF
the ground, which search all the super.
fetal parts of the soil With the same &C
tivity as thu under roots search the low
err parts; and that part osihe germ which
separatasthe two sets OF roots IS now
become a channel, through which the
lower Tssts supply the plant with the
nourishment they have collected.
"What al admirable contrivance TO
secure the prosperity Of the plant! Two
distinct sets of roots serve IN the brst
place, TO fix the plants firmly IN the
ground and to collect nsurlshnent that
comes naturally from the atmosphere,
or artiiciaRy as manure to the surface,
, and save the further purpose of being the
base sfnew stems, which ara titled up,
and so generally increase the prsduc-
tiveness ofthe plaut"
From these facts II is evident, thet
when the grains oil wheat lie nesc the
sarface, as they mostly DO when covered
with the harrow Only, these two sets ut
roots are necessarily crowded together,
so as almost 10 become indlStiRct, they
90 out together 20 collect their food
from The same posture, if we aay 50 ex
press il, and the plant cannot be supposed
Go be so we'll nourished as when tue low
err set Of roots IS deposited at the depth
Of three or four inches IN the soil.
Itfarther follows from these facts that
wheat for sowing should always be good
Of its kind "Itis not possible says the
writer in the New Hampshire Agricn
tural Repository, that shrieelled ker-
! mel viii send up as vigorous stalks as a
full kernel. In the first stages OF It's
growth, the stalk depends on It's parent
seed. II that be full of nutriment II will
send out strong radicals and a large
blade.--Because shrivelled grain will
come up some will sow it and even PIE
fer it to better grain, because it will
seed 9 ground"
Preparation ofths soed.-"Ifthe wheat
by impure or diseased" ths above wri-
ter observes, ut should before sowed,
be clesnsed and receive o certain pro.
cess of preparation. Many nox'ous
seeds are of different magnitude frsm
the wheat, and they may be separated
bv a sieve. Many are light and will rise
in water, These, when the wheat is inn
mersed, will float upon the water, and
may be skinned of-Tbe practice Of
sleeping wheat is useful, because by this
means, it may be brought forward ear
lier. While the field is preparing by
cultivation and by the warmth of the
sun, the vegetative powers OF the seed
may be excited; and it will come up
nearly a week sooner than if it had
been put dry into the ground. This is
no incsnsiderable benefit.
But if, instead OF water. lye, brine, a
solution of saltpetre, or urine be used,
the benefit will De greatly increased
These substances impregnate the kernel
with nourishment adapted to the growth
Of the grain, which, in its i~nfantile state,
may be benefited by artificial assist
snce.
Or if there be any latent causes Of
disease in its product, the substance ap.
piled sometimes remedy the evil. The
offensive qualities given to the seed by
the aforesaid methods prevent worms
from feeding upon it in the ground
When the time of sowing arrives, the
pickle should be psured sf, and newly
Stacked lime, or ashes be intermixed
with it. This answers a double purpose;
it occasions a separation Of grains from
the hand Of the sewer, and gives an ad.
ditienaI action to the vegetable power