The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-09-05

The hurry of the harvest is mostly
over, and the season is at hand when
every farmer will be preparing for the
next crop of wheat. Now there is one
important part of the preparations that
can be attended to at this season with
great advantage, and that is the selec-
ton of seed, and its adaptation for
growing.
There are a number of kinds of wheat
grown in this State, of which the prin-
cipal may be enumerated as follows:
The Soules White, which is favorite,
and was much grown until the ravages
of the wheat nudge in the eastern part
of the State put stop to its use.
The Hutchinson is grown to some
extent, but is not much used for seed,
except on particular farms.
The White Flint is also a variety
that is much grown, but We hardly think
to as great an extent as the Soules
White.
The Blue Stem, is variety of amber
wheat, that has been much grown, but
the nudge had the effect of decreasing
its cultivation.
The Golden Drop is variety that
has been lately introduced, and is found
to be so early in its ripening qualities
that it is but little affected by the nudge.
The Mediterranean, of late years,
has taken the place of number of the
above varieties from its ability to with
stand the attacks of the wheat nudge
This variety when originally introduced
was very inferior, and nearly all the
samples were full of imperfect kernels,
light half grown grains, that seemed to
have shrunk; the berry also was dull
in color, and the grain lacked bright
ness and in general the samples are
foul with. seeds of other plants, and
especially with rye, about the color of
which grain, this wheat was very much
liked. Since some attention has been
given to proper cleaning and crltiva-
ton of this variety, however, the sam
Piles have very much improved, the
berry is now much fuller and brighter
than it was some years ago, and there
arc fewer shrivelled grains, still it needs
care in selection, and We think it sus-
ceptible of still greater improvement
than it has yet undergone.
Whatever may be the variety of seed
that may be selected, it is important
that it should be examined, and
thoroughly cleaned before being sown.
Most farmers are contented with the
wheat which they have grown and
found to do well on their farms for
years; but in many cases, it has been
found that a change of seed is advan-
tageous, and aids in securing enough
advantage to the farmer who is enter
prising enough to try it to repay him
for bis trouble. This is the, case, even
where the same variety is grown. The
Soule's wheat, for instance, has been
grown on the same farm from its own
seed for a number of years. We
believe, had the wheat grower taken
pains occasionally to have procured the
seed for his opening or prairie land
from districts where sitter soil pre-
vailed, that the change would have been
beneficial. In most cases where such
an experiment has been tried, the re-
suit has been favorable, unless pre-
vented by some occurrence of weather
or insect, that of course did not in
fence the actual growth of the plant.
AS this is the season when any change
of seed should be determined, and when
those who desire to make such change
should make known their wants, we
take the opportunity to remind them
that though their land may be in the
finest condition, and thoroughly pre-
pared to secure health and luxuriant
plants, their labor is in some degree
lost. Every seed scattered by the hand
of the sower ought to be capable of
yielding a full return; it should be as
healthy as possible, and no other seed
should be sown with it. Seed wheat,
therefore, should first be of the sort or
variety that is determined to be sown
2d.lEvery grain ought TO be the very
soundest and ripest that can be grown ;
and 8, no intermixture of oats, rye.
chess, or other seeds should be per-
mitted amongst it. TITS
One good plan adopted for securing
the ripest and best grains, with as little
injury to the grain from thrashinp. is
that of selecting number of sbeayes
sufficient to yield the quantity of seed
required, and striking them over a
barrel, so that all the ripest and heaviest
seeds would fall out on the barn floor /;