Smyrna times., 1872-08-14
said to show it's magnitude and importance


prepare it by the plOw, and seed it at the proper
time, to have an assurance of fair crop of !
wheat. There was then no fly to prevent early
seeding, and early seeding secured it against !
the winter, rust, scab blight, and all other crop
destrOyers, except drought and hail. But as
the land became older, or longer under cultlva-
ton, the crop fell off in quantity and quality,
and became subject to fly, rust, scab and must,
and became SO Ounremunerative that the breadth
of land seeded in this and most of the old
States was greatly reduced After the crop
had thus run down and general failure caused
heavy impOrtatlOns from abroad, farmers
turned their attention to new varieties oil seed,
and better system of farming. About this
time (l83S) the Mediterranean wheat was in-
troduced, of which [ will speak hereafter.
Spring wheat was also introduced into this
State about the same time, and at first prom
ised revolution in wheat growing here, but
soon failed. But farmers, having made for
ward move, avaied themselves OF every help |
offered, and, as consequence OF higher manur |
ing and better farming, Delaware and Mary
land increased this product about 50 per cent |
between 1850 and 1860. The introduction of
new seed had something to do with this IN
crease, but more perhaps is due to Peruvian
| Guano (which was brought into general use
during this decade) than all others. But our
crops are not as good now as they were then.
| Why is this falling off? Our corn crop have
increased, and we might suppose that our
wheat crop would increase also, as our land is
advancing in improvement year by year
but such is not the case. Our crops have fallen
off considerably within the last decade, and 1t
may be we'll here to inquire for
The Cause of the Decline in Our Product.
In searching for the cause of the decline in
our product | can fnd nothing that seems so
apparent as the deterioration of our seed
wheat That it has deteriorated is easily
proved by referring to the many popular varie
ties that we have heretofore had, which have
run out and been abandoned one after another,
and their places substituted by other va
, rieties, which have, in turn, been abandoned
= also, until we are left with but one variety IN
general use in this State We have had, with
in my recollection, dozen different varieties.
: My first work in the harvest field, some fifty
e years ago, is associated with variety known
r as red beard, which was very popular, and
d main aimed its excellence for many years, and
It stood our climate better than any variety We
had at that time, or perhaps since. This wa
, followed by several varieties, among which wa
red chaff white, which was a beautiful white
n wheat, but not as prolific as some other varle
ties yet on account of its excellent qualitie
It for -four, was cultivated for a number of years
d Many of you remember the Introduction OF tht
J. blue stem white variety, which, when introduced
IL was ROOu lCT ~ " OO DuSuCIS w IhO oSAS
re but after few years seemed to detenorate
,y and became subject to both fly and rust, unit
le a failure was more certain than even moderat
I'd crop. and Is not now cultivated Ill this State
IN We also had a variety, called velvet head
which name was very appropriate, as the heaC
= had a soft, velvet appearance. 1t was very pre-
ke life when first introduced, but was so subjec
n, to rust that it was abandoned in few year
ne We also had variety, called Alabama, whlC
ed did well for a season, but like others, soon ru
of out. The BoughtOn or Tapahannock, was all
rs, introduced about twelve years ago. If thel
We is any credit due for it's introduction, beheV
he that am entitled to it but it did not stay loI
t." enough to do any one any credit though b
em lieve it is yet extensively sOwn i'll some parts
in Maryland. 1t was beautiful, white whea
ing and made fair yield for few years, and S
so perior -four, but like other white varieti
asst succumed TO fly Nearly all these we're smoO
to and white. During most of this time we had t
Mediterranean which, when first introduce
hat was quite fllnty-so much so that mlll(
NO. would not buy it while they could get 9th
me varieties. But our climate and light soils so
TO changed its character so that it became su
va ciently soft to make passable flour, though c
the white wheat made flour much superior a
mid commanded a ready market at better prices.
,0e The Mediterranean when first imported a
the introduced here, made a good yield--abC
ists double what we can get from itnow. knew
five lots that yielded 81 bus. and 373 respective
tbe per measured acre. No such crop could
who raised now from the seed we have, even W
. the most thorough preparation and high
90. manuring.
It of Nou 49, ~ tbo Jotar;c
one ~ Jul onop Ill 80 tr,, ~ ehow what
j. - - caused this deterioration.
> ~ First. | think that our soil and climate
!; 10 not perfectly adapted to the wheat plant.
,,;1n, ;n they were, we would find it growing wild
Wig Wig California and Oregon. But the main ca
aiso LIZ of degeneracy is caused by fly, the habits
noeS L which aeceSsttdtes such late seeding that
S;. plants have not time to get vigorous star
lant carry them through the winter, and especl
ian. I when it happens, as last winter, very cold
n': :; an insufficiency of snow to cover it, 1t m
70 ~ tains sickly existence and is poorly prepa
lnoi m to resist the ravages of fly in the spring,
~ 1a1 an pecially with such drought as last spr
.S and passing through similar ordeal year a
sno year must, of necessity, reduce its vitality,
/ - @ as a consequence, become an easy prey tc
This anu o.Iea & -. y, amo - tbe hast fin
'0' III SOW, with the best chances of escaping 4
enemies. This is difficult to determine
}. there seems to be no time OF universal app
{ i'm ton ; what may be proper tor one loca
being may not be the best for another. But fror
agni- observation of many years | am induce
c and believe that the nrst week IN OctoDer II
food. safest time in this county, taking serit
flour years together; earlier than TINS WoulC
tates, safest against rust and sun Dhght, out
{" in risk from fly. L have rarely. XII
'uling an entire failure when seeded at that
urope L have known many failures when Sc Sc
-four earlier; especially was this the case Wlti
1860, crop Just harvested. | know of several
no an seeded in September that the fly nearly ru
,0 | while others seeded only one week
D give entirely escaped its ravages. ~
3 was The next question Is, whaI variety VIII
n the stand the fly and climate. Inc mediterra
ecne seems to stand our climate longer thsn
meny Others but it, too had to succumb I
W set enemies. When nrst imported IL would
aid of the fly with early seeding. But aft
anies series Of years became like other varieties
been easy prey.