The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-04
Growth OF Cereals.

OF late years, the laws controlling
the development of cereals from GER
mination TO maturity, have been more
carefully studied than i'm former years,
and the results of these researches are
not only interesting, but valuable in
the highest degree to the practical
farmer, as they will enable him TO i'm
prove his modes of culture, by avoid
ing errors that seriously interfere with
the growth and development of plants.
Among the most interesting of the
many papers that have been prepared
on this subject, is one read at recent
meeting of the British Association,
by Mr.. L. +. llallet, in which were
detailed the results of a series of en-
periments conducted by the author
for the purpose of establishing certain
important facts connected with the
growth of cereals. Starting upon the
conviction that grain, and especially
wheat, is injured by planting too
closely, he found wheat plant would
increase above the ground in proper
ton as its roots had room to develop,
and that the roots might be hindcred
by being i'm contact with the roots of
another plant. TO enforce this argu-
ment against close planting, we may
add Liebig's remark, that ''the great
est enemy TO a wheat plant is another
wheat plant, not only because the nat
ural development of the roots are re-
ta,ded, but also for the obvious reason
that both require the same food !;
small head and kernels, and weak,
fabby straw, are the natural conse-
quences of such competition j. j.
Mechi, the widely known farmer and
writer OF England, says the close
sowing of grain is a national calamity.
Mr.. uallct continued his expert
men:s, planting one Kernel of wheat
only, and by applying the principles
he had previously deducted to inn
proving the method Of cultivation, he
succeeded in raising wheat, whose
ears contained La grains. In the
course of these investigations, he made
other discoveries with regard to the
growth Of cereals, which may be
summed up as follows:
/. Every fully developed plant,
whether of wheat, oats or barley, pre-
sents one car superior in productive
power To any of the rest. OH that
plant.
,. Every such plant contains one
grain, which upon trial, proves more
productive than any other.
). The best grain in given plant is
found in its best ear.
4. The superior vigor of this plant
is transmissibe in different degrees To
its progeny.
>. by repeated careful selection the
superiority is accumulated.
6. The Improvement which is first
raised gradually, after a series OF
years is diminished i'm amount, an
eventually so far arrested, that practi-
cally speaking limit to Improvement
in the desired quality is reached.
7. By still continuing to select, the
Improvement is maintained, and prac
tically fixed type is the result.
The progress now being made in
agriculture, is the joint work of theo-
~ and practice, and the Developments
OF late years concerning the structure
and physiology of plants, are of meal
culablc benefit. Chemistry has now
demonstrated the conditions absolute
ly demanded by vegetation for its
growth, and points out 10 the inquir-
ing mind the sources whence the re-
quisiie materials can re procured, and
the process by which the mechanical
act on can he best accomplished. Ev.
cry really successful farmer must, to
some extent, be 4 scientific man, be-
cause in developing the capacities of
his land to the utmost, in maintaing
and increp sing It's fertility, and over
coming the difficulties that battle
others, he must apply established prin-
ciples and the knowledge Of facts that
constitute important elements of sue
cess Farmers Home Journal.