Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-08-17
From the Lexington Ga=ette.
SPRING WHEAT

we ask the attention OF the farmers of the
county 10 the following valuable communism
40" from one oiour most intelligent and sue
cessiui agriculturalists. They will no doubt
Io"cur wan Us ." the opinion, that he richly
deserves the thanks Of The commun;,v for ~
efforts TO extend the cultivation of This yaIm-
soie grain, (Spring Wheat,) which viii se
cure an almost ccr;-;:: crop OF the grea, staple
OF tue Valley. We expect further informa
"on upon the subject from other intelligent
FARMERS OF this vicinity. We hone some of
them will grind small parcel ofihe Wheat.
SO as TO test the quality Of the -four. The
remainder they will no doubt distribute lib
orally among their brethren OF the plough.
august LIST, 1887.
Z. &. BALDWIN, Esq
Dear Sir-Hour mole o! the 9th ult. re
guesting information IN relation TO nv suc>
cess in the cultivation Of the Spring Wheat
was not received for several days aud my en-
S'genents SINCE, have prevented an earlier
answer 10 The several queries propounded
Will now endeavor To answer them. in the or
der OF your nolc, us well DIS can from an ex-
pertinent on three small lots. and for a siuy,e
season. The Wheat is Of the bearded t,mi
~, with beautiful, clear yellow straw, the
sneshes, think, placed closer on the head
.haii Is usuat IN that variety consequently
IL gives better yield from the straw, Than a
careless observer would suppose, from the
length OF the head. The grain may be cal
Ted red, aud of medium size. resembling
very much the bearded Winter heat com
mon IN our country.
IN regard 10 soil, preparatiun q, time of
sowing, would remark that in the expert.
ments have made, | SOW ed al three times
and on different soils; first, on the last week
OF February, on clover iallow, ploughed in
the same month then on a stiff clay, (wi,h>
out ciover) about the 18Th of NJ arch, ground
p'oughed near the time of the first lot and
last lot OF corn land, of medium quality
pioughed the last week in March, and sowed
as soon as ploughcd. The corn lot gave
much the best yield and hest Notwithstanding
well, and Tree from injury OF any kind until
ripe. The two first lots gave tna luxurant
grewlh-and the wheat fell before il was
made-consequently, the grain was some
what shrirelicd, but the straw was clean and
Tree from rust. The quantity sown was a
bout l.2 bushels per acre, which have no
doubt, was one third too much, and the ield
near 10 for one, on all the lots together, bu,
considerably more on the corn land cut
the Spring Wheat, the day finished cutting
Tire winter grain, aud my belief is, that il:
ordinary seasons, il i'll ripen about the same
time. AS to its ied in flour, l cannot speak
not having had any ground, hut Judge from
The appearance Of the grain, that il will not
make DIS fair -four, as any Of the hire vari-
cites OF w heat, hut that il will yield flour,
an quantity and quality, equal TO The bearded
Ninter Wheat, or any Of the red wheat
common amongst us. In answer To the Que
ry, 'wheiher the grain Can be advantageous
ly substituted, in whole or in part, Tor the
common winter wheat ~ have no besita-
lion ia saying, that il should not he substiiu-
ted IN whole, but that am of opinion that il
may &c advantageousiy substituted in part
think thai corn land is The best preparation
and that all or SO much OF it,, as cannot be
well prepared, and sowed in good time with
winter w heat, should he reserved for this
crop. Every Farmer viii at once see how
much such an arrangement woudrelie him
an his fall labours, and 18th ~ hat ease and
how handsomely lac could prepare his corn
land for spring crop, by emovin ing The stalks
off The land al his leisure IN the winter 10 the
barn yard
Your la, query is, whether have seed to
dispose Of have raised more than wish
20 sow--but many persons have made appli-
cation Tor seed, and until they call and re
ceive what has been promised, am unable
10 say how much will have TO spare.
III is my desire Ia dispose of il in small par
GELS, and To spread il as widely as possible,
believing as do, that il will be valuable
crop, particularly in situations, and on land
subject 10 injury from the action Of the frost.
ibelieve have answered all your queries, in
hasty and imperfect way to be sure but l
hope, that as other farmers in the neighbor>
hood have tried the same crop, they will
through your paper, favor US with their ex
perience and views, add thus any omission
o.t mine will be supplied, or error inls which
may have fallen, corrected.
Very respectfully,
A. + BARCLAY