Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-01-11
Extraordinary Wheat Culture.

1t has been my good fortune during
the past six months to witness the
growth and yield of wheat, planted and
cultivated in a way new to most people,
of which | propose to give you a state
ment. D. o. Bissell, who resides in
Goose Lake Valley, Modoc County,
California, is a practical as well as a
theoretical farmer. He holds that the
old mode of wheat-raising-that is, of
sowing from 100 to $50 pounds of grain
per acre-is wrong, contrary to the
true principles of agriculture, an I'M
necessary waste of seed and exhaustive
to the soil. In conversation with a par
ty of friends (farmers) he presented
that proposition, stating further that he
coul raise forty bushels of wheat to, the
acre from one pound of seed. The idea
being secuted as impossible he offered
to wager 500 that he could do it. The
wager was accepted, whereupon
MIR. Bissel, on the eighth day of last
April, proceeded to put his proposition
to proof by having one-eighth of an acre
carefully measured in the presence of
witnesses. 1t was subdivided into
spaces about 10 by. 81 inches apart, and
two ounces of seed was planted, the
seed having been carefully weighed, the
grain counted, and the ground spaced
so as to take but one seed in each place.
1t was then irrigated and cultivated like
Indian corn.
Now for the result as harvested in
the latter part of September. The
number of heads per stool was from 60
to 118 w~ell-developed heads. L send
you a sample stool, of many from
the plat, which contained 1876 heads, 11S
OF which were fully developed. The
number OF grains per head in this stool
was ~. Over one-half yielded 100
grains each. Owing to an accident Mr..
Bissel failed to get the accurate
weight OF measurement, but making
all due allowance for that wasted the
yield was ten bushels, or at the rate of
80 bushels per acre, 40 more than the
proposition called for.
Now compare the above result with
an average crop sown broadcast. lam
assured that the average number of
heads per stool in an average field of
wheat, sown broadcast, is not over
tive of 40 grains each, which would be
less than 80 bushels per acre, if all the
seed grew. What becomes of the seed?
In the field where this plant grew, there
was sown broadcast at about the same
time 100 acres. It was irrigated, as
was the other, and harvested at the
same time. 1t was put in good shape,
had the best of care, and at an expense
of $500 for seed alone. The yield was
not v 20 bushels per acre, or 1000
bushels for the crop. Mr.. Bissell in
forms ME that he will plant 81 or 40
acres next spring, using the seed
planter and cultivator instead of the
broadcast sower. The facts [ have
given "a be well attested, if desired.
Should any further information be
wished it will be furnished by address
ing d. 0. Bissell, Willow Ranch, Modoc
County, California.
| have written the above facts in the
interest of the agriculturists of the
country have been thus particular in
details hoping others may be stimulated
thereby to profit by the information
given. To the Changers | would say,
make this method of embarrassing the
subject of discussion in your lodges
and trial on your farms. A few sue
cessful trials, such as witnessed by the
writer, would revolutionize the mode
of grain-growing in this country and
remove from the farmer the heavy bur-
den of annually providing 100 to $50
pounds seed per acre for his crop when
one and a half to two pounds, allowing
for wastage in planting, would be all
that need be required. With such a
system how soon the mortgages would
be lifted from the farms-the incubus !!
Of debt crushing the farmer into the
soil he cultivates; how oon it would beg
&bolished!-Cor. San Francisco BwAe-1
tin.