Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-22
Agricultural.
BLACK SEA WHEAT.


a deservedly popular article of cutiva-
ton among our Berkshire farmers. The
qualities that render it proper subject
of cultivation, are that it does not re-
quire so strong soil as necessary to pro-
duce much less amount of other kinds
of spring wheat; that which will pro-
duce oats to advantage being sufficiently
fertile for this grain. 1t requires less
quantity Of seed per acre than other
kinds of wheat for while two bushels
is not considered too much of them, one
bushel, if the seed is plump, or five
pecks of any quality, are sufficient
stocking with this. 1t possesses unusual
hardihood, being less liable to suffer
from variations of temperature; super
abundant rains, or lack of moisture, or
the attacks of insects.
It's yield commends it TO cultivation !;
twenty bushels to the acre, in the last
season, being, so far as we have heard,
land we have taken some pains to as
certain facts,) none above the average
produce. Indeed we have not heard of
more than one or two crops that were
below that quantity, while in many in
stances, it has ranged from twenty-five
TO thirty, and in some cases more than
that number of bushels per acre.
The only objections that can be brought
against it as a grain for cultivation, are
that the color of the flour is not of so
pure white as that of the Italian, and
perhaps some few other kinds of wheat,
it possessing yellow cast, which in
some cases merges into the tawny, and,
perhaps, may not make quite so tender
bread. But it is sweet and wholesome
for all that, and the farmer, in these days
Of high prices for flour, will forget these
little DEFICIENCIES while eating good wheat
bread and butter of his own raising
On many farms, too, the former obiec-
ton may be removed, by choice ofsoil
in which the grain is sowed, its color be-
ing very much regulated by the color
and quality of the soil, an influence,
which we believe is exerted to a greater
or less degree on all kinds of grain,
though some perhaps more than others.
An intelligent miller, who has Toured
much of it, informed US a few weeks
since, that the quality of flour from grain
Of this kind, grown on high sandy land,
was at least fifty per cent. whittier than
that snade from grain Of this kind, grown
Oh dark loans,
Some argue that they can get their
bread easier by raising wool. 1t may
be easier, but is it cheaper =? Let us see.
We will in the first place charge for
barrel of flour seven dollars as little
money as will buy in these regions, to
say nothing Of the time and trouble of
going after it. Now estimate the wool
to purchase that -four Gt must be turned
into cash before it will buy four) at thir-
ty-three cents pound, which is allow
ing enough for the medium price, and
how many pounds OF wool are necessary
to buy the flour? Twenty-one pounds,
or on a liberal calculation, the clip of
five sheep. Now we all allow five bush
els of wheat to make barrel of -four
and set the wheat at only fifteen bushels
per acre; and then, after this liberal
deduction, you must give the feeces of
fifteen sheep for the fine flour, to say
nothing of the bran, coarse flour, &c,
that the acre of land produced, We
leave it for the farmers to say whether
the acre would have summered those fif-
teen sheep, and throw wintering mot
small consideration out of question.
Some prefer raising oats to buy their
flour. This system of proceeding will
admit of investigation. Let us see. At
the present price of oats, forty cents a
bushel Gin the country it will take l7l-2
bushels to buy barrel Of flour, costing
seven dollars, and to buy your three bar
'rels, or the product of an acre of wheat
giving fifteen bushels, you must get fifty
two aud half bushels of oats. How
much Of our New England land will
produce this quantity? Probably no
more than will, with little care and at
tention, give twenty of wheat. At any
rate, you can get your fifteen Of wheat
as easy as you can the quantity of oats
necessary to obtain it. If you do no
more than this, you save the trouble of
selling the oats and carting the flour, and
the crop leaves your land at least SO per
cent. better for producing the next three
years, than the oat crop will, a consider
alton that should always be brought into
the farmers estimate:
There are other considerations which
might be brought into the account; but
we have said enough to awaken the in.
vestigation Of the inquiring farmer in
this matter. Yours truly,
March, lS47. w. BACON.
Some recommend that the Black Sea
wheat be a little moistened before grind.
ing, in which case, it is said, the flour
will be free from the harsh and gritty
feel that is sometimes objected to.
SPRING WORK.
From the Massachusetts, Poughman