Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-10-08
AGRICULTURAL
FROM THE ALBANY cvLrivAron ron AUGUST.
WING WHEAT.

I
WING WHEAT.
Few persons are aware how very much the yfek
Of the wheat crop depends upon the manner II
which the seed is deposited in the soil. 1 fax 40
thing in saying that fully die third coid be added
ton to this point. The PROPER depth ut which
seeds should be deposited in the soil, has Engaged
the attention of the most eminent agricultursts and
scientific men of Europe, and its vast importance
Acknowledged by them.
Baioh Vonght, of Flotbeck, near Hamburg, has
most Ably discussed this subject in the British Far
mer's Magazine, vol. 4 !; and Mr.. Patrick Sheriff;
OF Mungo's Wells, near Haddington, in Scotland;
has written in the early numbers of the Quarterly
Journal OF Agriculture, articles so practically
convincing and SO much to the point; that think
you could not do your readers greater favor bt
vice than to give them to them entire; if the work
allude to is within your reach: II seed be placed
by accident or design at such depth i'll the earth,
as to be out of the influence of the air, and though
they may be surrounded by the requisite degree of
heat and moisture, they will nevertheless remain
dormant.
We have many instances Of the truth of this III
ever day practice and Of the imperishabe proper
ties of some kind of seeds when excluded from the
influence of the air. If seeds are dropped on the
surface OF the ground, they will remain unihured
and dnaltefed SO long the air is perfectly dry;
but in moist air termination commences, and tho
way to the soil. This is the ordinary process OF
nature but experience has taught us, that though
nature distributes grains and other seeds generally
on the surface of the spot where Produced yet there
is proper depth at which all seeds should be- de-
posted. and which is especially suitable. This
depth is obviously that which, while 1t yields the
necessary degree OF heat, moisture, and dafkfess,
is yet within the requisite influence of THE air.
lhe drilling system io approved not only from Its
equal distribution of the seed, but because by It,
IS 1,sI a..
cumstance is regarded Of the principal advan-
tages Of the machine. Now, Baron Vought has
endeavored to show that seed may be deposited too
deep even by the drill and in ali cases when seed
is sown before narrowing, much Of it will be laid
deeper than it should be, and consequently lost.
OF this there can be no doubt. Every one acquaht-
ed with sowing must allow that seed NAV be buried
too deep; and every body acquainted with the sruc
ture OF the columferous plants and their manner of
growth, must be convinced that if seeds afe Just
covered so as to be sufficiently shaded from the SUMS
rays, 1t is enough MIR. Sheriff clearly proves that
all seeds with what he calls "coronal fuots,'' no
matter at what depth the seed Is deposited ard FER
inmates, that SO soon 1t reaches within oiiehalf
an inch of the surface of the earth il will then nut
forth ITS coronal roots, and from them make new
start. There Is no fact connected with agriculture
more easy of proof than this any farmer may take
flower pot filled with earth and I'M II deposit thtes
or four grains OF wheat at different depths ho,fi All
inch downward, and satisfy himself of the fact, az
well as the weak and sickly state of all that are
sowed below the depth of one inch, ms compared
with the one sown at that, the proper depth.
Explanatory of these assertions, Baron toiihht
has appended to his paper figures OF five different
kinds OF grain in five different states of growth,
caused by the different depths at which they haye
been deposited In the earth / annex two of these,
as sufficient 10 illustrate my subject,
The dotted line is the surface of the SfoiIhd II,
represents healthy plant Of wheat from a seed
LAID In at the proper depth, viz; one Inch beneath
the surface b, shows the growth of plant from
seed which has been laid in two days. This last,
II Will be obseryed vegetated although two or three
inches under the surface, threw out its seminal or
nrst roots, and sent up its first shoot bearing two
leaves into the air; but the first branch of the
culm rises Herewith, and remains near the surface,
IL also throws out roots, and entirely supersedes
those that were first produced by the grain.
10 every practical and obeervant farmer t must
be evident that this unnecessary waste of vegetable
power must be both hurtful and unnatural; beside.
the young plant must be more hhbln to accidents
from the changes of the weather. sugs, and Insects,
during the ascent of the first shoot and before the
principal root is formed, than il started from its ma
tural position at once.
To guard against over-deep sowing. of btryinp
the seed altogether hot to germinate at all it IS
evident that no seed should be sown until the ground
is .flrSt ha'TO,ced and made level; and when sown;
light harrow passed over the field, will cover the
seed sufficiently to insure safe and good ctop.-
VI seSc idctS eA peIlence nau long since convinced
me, but if any doubt had remained in my mind a.
bout it, the crop Of wheat grown by Mr.. VIM L..
Thomson, within few miles of this city the past
season, would have entirely removed them. He
had a 20 acre field Of corn, which lie had cit up
and taken away. Finding the ground very mellow,
ne thought he would try the experiment, Of sowing
his wheat on If, two bushels to the acre; without
blowing, and merely harrow it in, which he did,
His hands, and all his neghbors tried to dssaade
him from 1T, saying 1t was waste of so tfiuch seed
and labor, but much to their astonshment, lin the
spring, there was not SO luXurant ctob as his in
the neighborhood; and have Mr.. Tho,nson's as4
surance, that he delivered to the mill OF good ner.
charitable wheat, little % bushels to the acre.
being bushels to the more than he had ever
grown off his land before. SO satisfied is he with
the result, that he is determined never to sow his
wheata again until he has first narrowed and evelled
his land 80 as to preclude the possibility Of too deep
y burying any portion of the seed, which is inev-
table if sown plowed and unharrowed laid, of
what is stl worse, if Sewn and powed in as is of.
ten the case
If these remarks will only draw the attention of
wheat growers to this subject, am satisfied that
little reflection ad observation will convince them
that by properly preparing their land 10 receive the
seed, and depositihg it at a proper depth hi the
soil, the wheat crop of the United States MAY be
increased fully One-third, without any additional la.
Dor or expense, FARMER.
Louisville, Kentucky, 1876
To PRESERVE GRApEs-At recent meeting
of the New York Fatr,ers' Club, DR.. UNDER
nit read q private letter from gentleman of that