Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-11
Mashin9toa tanaarA
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY, JULY IL, 1879.
One Kernel.

possible, the approximate results
which will follow, say in one, two or
three years after planting single
kernel of wheat and juliciously
handling it. Incredible as some of
the results have proved to be, the
chief value of the experiments is
found in she fact that it was proved,
beyond a peradventure, that by far
the best way to SOW grain, partlcu-
larry wheat, is to put it in drills.
When grain is sown broadcast, years
of careful practice can never secure
a perfect uniformity in the distribu-
ton of the seed. 1t often happens
that two or more kernels will be
lodged in such proximity to each
other that nothing short of serious
detrimeut to each will be the ulti
mate result. Wheat is one of the
most exhaustive OF all the cerial
crops, whence it is plainly seen that
where several grains fall in contact,
or nearly 50, not one OF them can
receive the nourishment from the
soil which it requires to bring the
future plant to the most perfect ma
tnrity. Every farmer knows this,
and the evil can be detected in every
field of wheat which has been sown
in this way.
Some philosophical asriculturalist
has made the striking remark that,
If ever seed-drill can be SO per-
fected that it will assign to each kerr
aelof wheat dropped into the ground,
m area of several square inches of
judiciously prepared soil, the science
of wheat-raising will receive an i'm
petus never known before. This,
then, is the true philosophers stone
in all grain sowing operations, to
have one and only one kernel fall in
one place and to secure to it mass
Of productive soil determined only
by boundary that shall completely
inclose the widest range of the roots
putting out from the most vigorous
stalk. This may seem either large
allowance of land or short allow
ance of seed, but the theory is
sound and correct in every par
iicular.
The following extract from an Ell
Dorado, Cal, paper, comes exactly
In poiEt, and we give it entire for the
benefit of our agricultural friends
"Last September, in writing up
the exhibits at our county fair, we
noted a bundle containing fifty-two
well-headed stalks, grown on j..
Veerkamp's ranch, at Granite Hill,
Coloma township, said ffty-two
stalks being the product OF one kerr
mel of wheat. The large wheat
stools of which this was sample
were found on the outer edge of the
field, and averaged twice, thrice OF
quadruple the number of stalks to
the stool, and proportionately ex-
ceededfn size and weight of head
those whese the seed had been
sown more thickly. Acting upon
the idea thus suggested, and to de-
monstrate what could be produced in
agiven period from one kernal OF
wheat most judiciously handled, Mr..
Veerkamp this spring planted in
rows, corn-fashion, the wheat from
the ffty-two stalks above mentioned.
The kernels were planted about
four or five inches apart, in drills
about twenty-one inche APART max
ing three rows about 81 yards-99
feet-in length. Last Tuesday we
had an opportunity of inspecting
the results thus far obtained. The
patch of wheat stands from two and
a half to four feet i'll height. The
stalks are extraordinarily large and
strong. We measured one head
which exceeded six inches in length
and the average would fall but little,
if at all, shor. Of five inches. In
one stool we counted u stalks, and
in one of the smallest we counted
AZ stalks. The results conclusivelv
demonstrate 'bat by planting whea:
in drills, rs we plant Indian corn,
giving the plants room to stool and
spread, ome-fourth Of the seed u.s.
ually used in sowing seed broadcast
will produce more grain, and of bet