Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-29
For the Freeman.
A Chat with Farmers.
BY AGRICOLA.

This time will speak of one of our ce-
reals used for breadstutf thu oughout the
civilized world. WhenG be,onys to the
same family with barley and rye, which
constitute the sub-tribe OF grasses. The
name means Whjte, and was given to this
cereal TO distinguish it from rye, which i,
dark colored. one fact in regard to what
Is known us spring and winter wheat may
not be understood by all farmers, viz. the
Two kinds are not distinct species, but onl,
forms produced by cultivation Spring
wheat may be converted into winter wheat
by IA few years Of successive growing AT
that season.
The origin of wheat is uncertain. We
have no proof that it ever grew in a wild
state, and hence must infer that it has been
developed by cultivation. There are
many different varieties of wheat. One
French writer informs us that he himself
had cultivated and analysed three hundred
and twenty-five different species. Tn,
plant differs in stature, habit and foliage
in the size and shape of the head, the mum
Der of flowers. and the shape and size o.
their envelopes; the presence or absence
of beard, and the size, form. color and hair
mess of the grain. The character of the
soil also determines the variety of tn,
plant.
The ancient Egyptians raised wheat, an(
the Chinese cultivated it twenty seven hun
dred Years before Christ. This cereal i,
extensil ely cultivated in European coun
tries. but not in sufficient quantities full,
10 supply their home markets. Russia
Denmark, Hungary. Turkey and Chill
however, Gas well as the United States
export large quantities.
In this country wheat growing has rap
idly extended westward, the eastern state,
having failed to raise remuneratiye crops
The question is now under discussion. il
New England, whether skilfu farming
would not produce good crops of whea
on our soil. 1t must be conceded, howey
er, that the praries of the west have 4
great advantage over the worn lands o
the east, and the only question is which i.
the most expensive, fertilizing at the east
or transporting The wheat or flour from
the west?
The principal wheat growing state,
range in the following order: Iowa, mi
nois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, California
Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Michigan
Missouri, Tennessee. X, nlu ky, New York
Virginia, Maryland, Kansas, Nebraska
Oregon, North Carolina, West Virginia
Georgia and New Jersey--Iowa producln.
the most and New jersey tie least. Ii
1874 Iowa produced thirty. four million,
six hundred thousand bushels of wheat
against one million. nine hundred and for
ty eight thousand bushels raised in New
Jersey. In the twenty-five states abov,
named. in 1874 three hundred nine mill
IONS one hundred two Thousand and sever
hundred bushels were produced
II would seem, To feed the world. AM
yet. am assured by reliable tcstimon,
that The current year, 1873, has one.thirc
more acres Of wheat sowed than ever be-
fore, and that the crop never promised IL
he so abundant. And yet, the times are
hard. and the nation is under cloud o.
financial distress! Why. in the name O.
an abundant harvest. is it SOP Chiefly
perhaps. IN consequence of the daring i'm
pndence of revolutionary demagogues al
Washington.
On this extensive field of wheat culture
which has been under review, not more
than dozen different kinds of seed are
sown. New kinds are frequently offered