Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-09-13
AGRICULTURAL.

CALIFORNIA, or MANY HEADED WHEAT
MIR. BELL Sir the Peoples Press.n like
other country papers, being chiefly paronizcd by
farmers leave you this communication. hoping
IL may appear IN HE columns OF your paper, that
the attention Of that portion of community may
be called to new kind of wheat. Of late nroduc.
cd into this country. This grain being uo matter
OF mOonshine." uIl will feel deeply Interested in its
propagation, for it bids fair to restore New England
to It's former prosperity in the production OF
Wheat.
The California, or many headed wcni, has
been raised in the United States hut two years.
description is given in the Georgia and Carroll
ia papers, thus:
"Tho many headed, or California wheat, is an
indigenous plant of California six heads of which
was produced by Major Spierien of AbbcviIlc, s..
{. while government agent 10 the Ossago Indians
in lS}9-it was presented to him by grandson
Colonel Boon, he (Boon,) having received it from
some friendly Indians. who brought it from the
gulf of California. Spierien, on his return to s.
&. let Pipheus Baker of Abbcve, plant it on
on shares-lhc production of the six beads was
ten thousand heads. The ground OH which the
wheat grew was measured hy an accurate sur
veyor-the heads counted, and one head shelled
out aud the grain weighed--a calculation was
then made, the result OF which was the wheat pro-
duced at the rOte Of two hundred and thirty busll-
els 10 the acre 1t was raised on poor sandy soil,
aud unassisted by manure"
Some may ask why is this wheat more produc-
tive than other kinds In answer to such an in.
quiry will say-each kernel produces root. or
las styled by souhernCrs ole stool t each root or
stool bears hon twelve, 10 nty-five or thirty
heads-seldom less than fifteen on good ground I.
in some cases fifty or sixty the heads generally
average about one hundred kernels, like other
Kinds of grain Oh some roots there are small
heads, but usually large; thus at the lowest esi-
mate, from one seed, may be raised twelve hun
UrcU, the np,Iiufn ViplI nbnut
this is a return never yet realized from any 9th
er KIND or wheat raised in the u. States. The
California farmers challenge those in any other
part of the Union TO produce any kind of wheat.
that VIII begin TO compare with ths--thuy have
raised it and many Of them are ready to stake
ten thousand dollars, each, that they can raise two
hundred bushels of this wheat to the acre. So
great has been the demand for it, that last fall (the
first CROP it sold 10 those who saw it growing for
five dollars per head-and this season. although
large quantity considering it being the first crop
from six heads has there been raised, it sells as
readily as last year. although not as high Some
may ask has any been ground and made into
bread? There has not-thcy tell me, " might as
well expect them 20 feed their horses like Culigu-
la, upon guided cats" Probably another wear
The country in that section viii be so well supplied
that some may test its merits in the bread line,
although from the appearance Of the wheat, none
doubt its making good bread. Some may ask
why has it not before been introduced into Il is
country? lie plain answer is, we have little or
no trade with the Cnlifornians, consequently the
productions OF that country have not been drawn
out by ibis nation, has been those of other
countries. This is not The Egyptian wheat, but
very unlike ii. A friend of mine in Abbeville S.
&. sent me small quantity last fall as | did not
receive j: until late fearful that it would not
root sufficiently TO Withstand our bcak and frosty
New England winters but il did, although late
sowing, and hard winter and spring were against
ii. My crop is now ripening, and taking into
consideration all things, late sowing, hard winter
Giy summer, &c it bids fair TO rival the crop OF
last year. have several roots bearing over q
heads, some 80, and one forty one The soil OF
o. which it grew was poor and hard My reason fol
not enrching the soil was, my friend cautioned
me against raising the wheat on too rich soil les
= it lodge; but my next crop will have good soil
intend raising quantity Of the wheat another
year, but as have so much more than | have
land for, should be willing to sell some of it at
fair price, that it may increase rs fast MS possible
and become scattered through the country, n,
my wheat is probably ali that is in New England
All communications, post paid, will receive
prompt attention. With this communication,
forward head Of the wheat, for Mr. Bells exam
inaon and opinion.
Respectfully yours, O. S. BRANCH.
Orwell, VI. Aug. Is, lS4I.