The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-11-07
AGRICULTURAL.
ITALIAN SPRING WHEAT.

the subject OF the culture OIL the ltallan spring
Wheat Several kinds of Spring Wheat are O.
Enumerated in this article; and that above men
toned is spoken OF as apparently the most valu-
able of the varieties yet known among us. The
extracts below are from letter of Mr. Hathaway,
ofRome, Oneida county, N. Y, to friend, who
wished to procure quantity of wheat, addressed
Mr. ii. on the subject, requesting Information us
10 the manner OF its Introduction, kind of soil
most favorable, mode Of culture, &c and are fol-
lowed by remarks by the editor of the Farmer.
"The Italian spring wheat which has been dis
seminaed through my means is an excellent
grain, and very sure crop 1t yields largely and
has the wonderful property of doing well on poor
worn out land, though of course the crop will
he heavier on more favorable soil; the fact well
ascerained here that land so light and worn
down, that it will not produce crop of oats will
bring fair crop of spring wheat
The original imported wheat weighed full 63
lbs. to the bushe and now that the fifth crop
has come in, it weighs GO lbs. The hour is fine
and the yield good; the miers speak highly of
its qualities: and the flour makes good, light
sweet bread, rather more moist perhaps than that
from winter wheat. The Italian is a bearded
wheat, white chaf bright yellow straw, the ber-
ry variable in color; generally Of a reddish color.
The proper time for sowing is in April, if the
ground can be well fitted; this season has been
peculiar, and late soWn wheat has succeeded best
with US and in so I've instances ripened soonest
1t seldom is infected with smut, and II lined,
never From one and one fourth, TO and
one half bushels of seed are sown TO the acre,
rich land requiring The most.
,l,ot 4, Il, -,
grows well and does well on almost every varie-
~ Of soil, from stiff clay to Il sandy plain. In
this county we have very little good wheat land,
have not seen it growing on any that would be |
pronounced such 10y Il western farmer. 1t us
ally npcns by The l4th of August, and yields
from fifteen to thrty-ive bushels per acre. The |
straw this year from its rapid growth is less firm
'''an usual, and is taller; the consequence is that
1t has lodged more than in any former year.
came in possession of the original wheat by |
accident An Italian gentleman of Florence
married against his fathers will, was dsinIcriteI
and he emigratcd to America, bringing, among
quantity Of other seeds, a tierce of this wheat,
intending to turn farmer. The wheat did not
rive seasonaLly for spring sowing in this place
and was left in store house the canal. The
IL
Florence i'll this county Induced by the name
probably was no farmer, made bad calculations
and worse experiments, and failed in every thing;
soon became reduced, and was about to cat his
imported wheat for which | had advanced him
money 10 pay the transit and charges. ! hap
pened to see it, and was struck with it's excel
ience, told HIM it must not be disposed of, pro-
cured him other wheat and took it at its cost in
Italy, $3.50 per bushel. [ succeeded in getting
1t into hands of some OF our farmers, though
without much confidence on their part-But the
result was most grafying-the wheat actually
producing about double the quantity usually
grown on an acre, and selling at more than doub-
lie the price OF common spring wheat. From :
this it has all arisen.
small sample Of the wheat which accom-.
panied the letter, by it's appearance fully jusfes
the account given to its quality; beng of plum
per berry than is usual in spring wheat, thinner
skinned, and the kernels being more easily re-
duccd to flour. The demand for the wheat has ,
neeh great, and prices igh but it has become
extensively cultivated in that vicinity that it can {
De obtained for seed in any desirable quantity
ana all probability at somewhat reduced prices ,
Ihe remark of Mr. Hathaway that in its adapta- ,
uop to soil, the Italian wheat might he consider t
Ell cosmopolite or every where at home, would S
seem 10 he applicable TO it in reference TO climate
as well us soils. 1t has been found to succeed d
admirably IN Canada; where the culture of wheat '
promises to entirely supersede that of winter !
grain; and we have before us the staunton Va. Il
Spectator of August 81, which states that the +,
Hon. Mr. Breckenridge last winter procured five Il
or six bushels from Mr. Hathaway, and last spring t
distributed it among the farmers of that neigh y
borhood. The yield has been good, varying =
from twenty to twenty-five bushels per acre; J.
thus establishing the fact that it may be success Il
fully grown from the Canadas to Virginia. The s
editor remarks-"That he thinks it is not liable \