Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-07-26
The Cereal Grasses.

CEREAL grasses, the seeds of which are
known unfortunately as corn in Euro
pean countries, but with us by distinctive
names, stich as rye, wheat, oats, barley,
rice and Indian corn, or MAIZE are of too
much Importance to the human race to
admit of any considerable neglect Our
prosperity as q nation depends in great
measure on these products of the soil,
and anything that tends toward improve.
ment, either in method of culture or de-
velopment of varieties, should meet with
a cordial reception from every cultivator
of the soil. We 10 not mean by this that
farmers should strive to purchase every
new implement or grain that is offered,
expecting each and every one is to work
complete revolution in his circum-
stances, or make the earth produce with
out expending u certain amount of labor
thereon. But each individual should en-
deavor to do his part in fully developing
that which he already possesses. The
hundreds of varieties of wheat in cultiva-
ton probably all came originally from
one species, but during centuries of culti-
walton variations were sought for and OBJ
tanned.
A change of soil, climate and culture
tends to make any plant depart from the
normal type; hence varieties and their
adaptation to the climates and soils
wherein they are known to succeed best.
The same principles which caused the
first variation in wheat still exist, and is
as potent as in the days of the ancient
Egyptians, and all that we have to do at
the present time in order to secure new
sorts is to watch for and gather them as
they occur.
Probably there is not a wheat.field in
the country at this moment in which
some slight variations could not be found,
and it is just here that we should begin
by carefully examining any heads that
show slight departure from the general
form of the variety sown.
Even a careful selection of the largest
heads and best-developed grains of any
variety for several years in succession
will pay well for the time thus expended.
1t is also an excellent plan to raise seed
wheat separate from the main crop, hav-
| ing the land thoroughly prepared, both
as to richness and freedom from foul weeds
| If every farmer who raises any particular
kind of grain would pursue this system
we should hear less about deterioration
and running out. If a man desires to
| improve his domestic animals, the first
thing he does is to select the very best
and breed from no other; but when il
comes to grain, very few seem to think
that the same plan would bring equally
good results.
Halfripened and diseased grain is nc
more suitable for seed than dwarfed
| stunted and diseased animal. The time
to begin these selections is at hand, and
as the grain is harvested let the very best
be laid aside for seed but it will not dc
to depend upon selections from the croI
after it has all been threshed and in the
bins, but 90 into the fields and either
select certain portion or even a single
head, and from this pursue an improving
instead of the far too general deteriorat
ing policy Watch closely all the cereals
and make selections of the very best OF
each, and we can assure every farmer that
if this system is carefully pursued for a
few years the improvement in any grain
will more than pay the cost OF cultivation
of the entire crop.
The difference between good and pool
seed is often equal to fifty per cent. of the
entire crop, and seldom less than ten
which, of course, is dead loss, for il
costs no more to SOW good seed than
poor.
We are quite certain that the total
amount OF the cereals produced in this
country might readily be increased ten to
twenty per cent. by careful selection OF
seed, and an equal amount by expending
five per cent. more labor in preparing the
soil Very few would be willing to ad
nit that our climate and soil are not vel
adapted to grow large majority of al
the known species and varieties of cerea
grasses; still our agricultural statistics
show that in the average yield per acre
we are far below the old and long-culti
waited lands of Europe. Y. Sun.