Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-09-19
agrituIttlrQl un0 Nonle5tit.
SPROTTINC WHEAT.

SPROUrING WHEAT.
There is no little excitement through
out this and the adjoining States abou-
the damage done by the-rain to the har-
vested and unharvested crops of gram
and hay. It is not at all surprising that
every farmer should measure his own
and his neighbours crops in the same half
bushel. and whenever sprouts have ap-
peared, not only think himself totally rus
ined, but also believe famine to be inevi-
table.
Let us look at the prospect fairly.
There is no disputing the fact that in all
the wheat region north of Al degrees, the
wheat, either cut, or uncut, is badly
sprouted. How great the damageis, it is
difficult to determine, as many farmers
have no precedent to judge by, not hay
ing had SUCH season for several years
Indeed, we remember only one-it was
the year 1886, though the worst of the
wetweather came somewhat later.
That year the wheat was most cut, and
in shocks in the field, or in stacks. In
the great wheat regions of Ohio, Indiana.
and Illinois, tile farmers quite generally
declared the crop 20 be totally ruined.
In some fields il did look so, for when
it was uncut, the yellow heads assumed
green shade, and the shocks and stacks
became as green on the surface as the
adjoining pastures. In due time, how
ever, the raining season was over, the
sprouts died, the standing grain was cut,
the shocks stacked or thrashed, the stacks
lost their bright yellow hue and stood
rusty-lOoking mass of dry, weather beat~
en- straw; and yet-mark the result
the wheat inside was as bright and sound
as ever. So slight was the injury that it
it was hardly perceptiOle in the final re-
suit. The shocks and standing grain were
more injured. but not ten per cent Of the
grain was destroyed. When wheat is
Sprouted good winnowing machine will
remove most of the injured kernels which
make excellent feed for animals. If
there be q predominance Of sprouted
grains in the griSt that goes to mill, it is
not spoiled for food il is only spoiled
tor light bread. The dough, instead of
rising by the ordinary process, has ten
dency TO liqWily and spread out and form
Il sticking mass that will not be kneaded
Wto lOaves. 1t makes good uuleaveu-
ed bread, and is quite uutrious, with
swedish taste. By many persons bread
made OF sprouted wheat is preferred, but
in market the least appearance of grown
kernels will inj ure the sale. Some millcrs
even contend that one per cent of such
kernels will injure the quality of the
whole. 1t is therefore very important to
the farmer that he should keep the sprout-
ed sheaves separate from the sound, and
should also separate the sound from the
uusound grain in winnowing, as far as
possible.
The injury of rain upon wheat in this
country is quite Overrated, because we are
not we'll used TO tour harvest weather
being usually so fine that the straw retains
its golden brightness till it has been
thrashed. Not so in England. There
the rains are often SO incessant that
sprouted wheat is very common, and the
business of shocking or stacking tbs
sheaveS, is an art that commands higher
wages than reaping. There the stacks
are always matched to preserve them
from sprouting from the outside, and Of
ten built, hollow to dry them on the inside.
In this contry we are much more care
less. Our wheat is often exposed to COM
pIete soakings. Much of that grown in
tlIo "SSG 10 GutdSucu Ol LlIS SIOulu, uuG
often lies in a pile through long rain,
and if a warm one, some of the outside
grains are sprouted, but the inside of the
pile is uninjured.
The Danub;an wheat-boats are with
out roofs ; the grain is piled up i'll a heap
rounded on top, and exposed to all the
rains that fall during long voyage
ii the weather be warm, the outside
grows and mats together some inches
deep, and that protects the ramainder.
The worst OF the Sproutcd part is only fit
for beasts. while that but slightly sprouL-
cd, sells as food for man, and that below
the wetted crust is for shipment to France
CT England.
We have no doubt that the grain is in
Jured the present wet spell, some accounts
OF which we continue to give but it is not
SO 'Ctteriy ru.nous.' We may doubt
whether farmers do not gain more in 9TH
er crops than they lose in wheat by the
rains. Mean time let us console ourselves
shat we are not likely TO be destitute of
wheat. A trust worthy writer makes an
estimate that Ohio will yield the pres
cnt season twenty-five millions of bushels,
Illinois, eighteen millions, Wisconsin, ten
millions, Michigan, eight millions, and
Pennsylvania, twenty millions" There
is no prospect Of a famine.-N. Y. Tri6.
NRe.
PRESERVING Fauna number of
persons VINO have been puttinc m frriL