The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-10-22
CHESS. sECALINUs.l

mare, Let-me- 0ne-Oeiore-lne-peOple
CHESS. -(BROMUS SECALlNUS,)
There are few farmers who are not
more or less acquainted with chess, and
il has been regarded as one Of the most
troublesome weeds against which they
have TO contend. It's habits are very Pc
culiar, and not few have been sadly
puzzled in trying TO account for its being
so prevalent in their wheat fields; and
many have been led TO believe in the
doctrine Of hansmuiation Of wheat to
chess. However absured this may appear
to those who are of the opposite opinion,
there are men Of high standing, and
those who are regarded as men of
sound judgment, who are firm believers
in the doctrine Of transmupta;ion.
! 1t becomes all men to pay due regard
and respect to the opinion Of others, for
i, is only by thorough investigation and
comparison, that we are enabled to arrive
at the truth; but the question Of transmu.
,arion has been SO often discussed with
out avail, that we no longer desire ic
take part in the controversy.
Chess belongs TO class third, Triandria
order second, Dygynia. The botanical
name is Bromus Secalinus. Il resembles
oats, in several particulars and is regarded
} BY boianists as species OF wild oats
The particles are nodding, the spikelels
are Of compressed ovate form, ;he
: plumes are nude and distinct, and it ha:
, about ten seeds in each spikelet. !
} bears no resemblance to wheat or rye
: with which it is so often found Ches
is common, especially on land that is re
} tentive Of moisture, it springs up 81
!, such land where The wheat is winter
] killed, apparently without any previous
seeding, hence it is SAID "ihe wheat ha
: turned 10 chess"
/, There are cases on record Of whea
/, and chess that grew on the same stall
d which the advocates Of transmutaticn sa
y is conclusive evidence that wheat turr
/, TO chess; On the other hand, those VII
J. do not admit this to be positive evidenc
e assert tha, such cases have been ext
ID mined, and there has been found to D
d. stalk within a stalk, one produclu
c chess and the other wheat. Those o.
le posed 10 transmutation say that il is
s. opposition to the never changing law
nature, that everything whether anm'
+. or vegetable will beget lis like. We al
ID Of the opinion that this law Of nature hi
a no exceptions; bu, still we are not sati
!, factorily advised Of the source fro
e, whence chess comes. Let il come fro
d what source it may, it will grow whe
Of sown and produce chess, hence it is
'e the utmost importance that we sow non
$ and il al any time we are SO untortuna
* as to raise it, we must turn to i son
III account, by feeding it to stock OF
,ff kinds after it is ground but never befor
re for large portion will not DO mas;icate
"a, when it is fed unground, and it will
ee again sown broad-cas, over the land.
YI Queries. Is it possible for Natur
ne under certain circumstances, to produ
ay plants, without seed, or spontaneously.
n ifl, is not, how shall we accoun, for {,
be weeds and grasses thai immediate
es spring up on newly cleared land2 Is
nd possible tha, blossom Of wheat can
lat iimpregna,ed with the pollen Of enc
j a and the kernal retain the form Of whe;
lat Is it possible tina. this kernel, inasmu
", as must partake Of the properties
pc chess, can produce chess and not viol'
ear the law OF nature before mentioned?
lg: 1i5 H. A. BARNUM
y! sunnyside, N.Y.. 1852.