Daily globe., 1879-03-24
SEED WHEAT.
Some Practical Experience of an Intellt-
gent Farmer.

To the Editor of the Globe
It is gratifying to notice newspaper
writer's bringing their thoughts to
bear upon. the great and para
mount industry of the State. It sounds
oddly that any question relating to the cul-
ture of plant upon which for thousands of
years the human family have mainly depend
ed for subsistence, should at this late day re-
main unsettled. The question which now
concerns farmers, and in the aggregate in
wolves the saving or outlay of from $780,
600 to 81 100000 dollars, is not whether
light shrunken wheat will sprout, for this
every farmer, with spark of prudence or
forethought, always determines for himself,
but the more obscure one, whether the wheat
which sprouts freely will, when the time
comes for heading and filling, have suf-
icently vigorous growth to mature it's fruit
perfectly?
The Darwinian theory of the ''Survival of
the Fitest," or that races of animals can be
improved only by careful selections, would
seem to be general argument against imper-
feet seed of any kind yet there are series of
facts which go to prove that the argument
does not apply with equal force to the vege-
table kingdom.
In the chit of the seed grain, where al
ready exists the embryo plant, the vital
forces are in state of suspension. So long
as the seed remains dry the vital activities
remain dormant, but upon the application of
heat and moisture they are speedily put in
motion. The chit in the seed-grain lies i'm
bedded in smaller Or larger volume of farina,
and the market value of wheat depends
upon the amount of farina stored away in
the berry. Now, supposing the chit to
be of mature growth, perfectly
organized and endowed with full measure
of vitality, does the success of the forthcom-
ing plant depend upon the quantity or
quality of farina which makes up the bulk of
the seed? From some facts which will re-
late, which fell under my experience, am
disposed to think that the starch and fatty
matter of seed grain has very little to do
with either the growth or fruiting of the
plant Observing one day an uncommonly
large stalk of cats, the largest ever noticed,
standing apart in the edge of wheat field.
first wearied myself counting the grains.
then I carefully dug it up to ascertain If pro.
duced by a single seed, which it was. and
was surprised to find the seed plump and
solid, the farina but little disturbed, nor had
the grain rotted.
In light sandy soil have frequently found
the seed potato solid and firm, still re aiming
the greater part of its starch when the new
crop was ready for use. Indeed the growers
of sweet potatoes, to economize in seed,
simply remove the sprouts from the tubers
and transplant them as we do cabbage or
tomato plants. Still another fact we'll
known to every farmer would seem to add
considerable strength to this side of the ar
gument To secure the most reliable seed
corn farmers go through the fields of grow
ing corn long before it is fit to harvest and
pluck the ears while yet In the "dough,"
that is before the grain is ripened. The
grain on these ears, when econntpletely
dried, are shrunken down to from a half to
two thirds of the natural size. That is, the
grain is deficient in farina retains in part
but small bulk of its nutritive qualities,
and yet this is found by long experience to
furnish the most perfect and saleable seed.
Years back we always rejected the small
grains from the seed end of the cob, yet for
many years 1 have seen it advocated by
large corn growers that they had found by
experience an advantage in using the smaller
grains.
I am inclined to the belief that the plant
does not feed directly upon the inorganic
starch or gluten stored away in the seed Gu
ticle and forming The bulk of all grains, and
that # the chit is healthy and vigorous the
future success of the plant does not depend
upon the weight or volume of the berry.
1 know very we'll that what I have said
above is entirel.. insufficient to form basis
for action, but it may awaken the attention
of many who can speak with more absolute
certainty. 1t is terrible drawback for a
farmer to sell his wheat for what he can get
and go long distance for other wheat to
take its place unless from dire necessity.
Last fall l examined fields of wheat, magnit-
cent in growth OF straw on head, yet I
would as soon think of sowing chaff as such
wheat as it came from the field; still in
every field Il examined there was small
quantity of good seed, which would trust
to without hesitation if properly separated
from the bulk of worthless trash.
[ see some writers are cautioning farmers
with advice not to SOW too much seed to the
acre. This, I am convinced, is bad argu-
ment. I prefer to SOW so thick that the
wheat is not inclined to stool. I prefer a
single large, full head 10 several small heads
innperfectIy filed with inferior berries. 1t
will yield more, and weigh more per acre
Yours, ETC., T. T. Mann.