Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-12
THE NORTH WIND AND WHEAT.


We are having an unusual amount of north
wind this season, and while it has not yet
been of that very warm drying character
which We have experienced some seasons,
nevertheless we are satisfied that great dam
age has already been done to the wheat crop
In most, if not all, sections the early-sown
grain on summer-fallowed lands has suffered
most This grain was very generally just in
the stage most vulnerable to the baneful in
huences OF these winds going out of the
blossom and beginning to form the berry
when the north winds of two weeks ago com.
menced. The winds being cool and the grain
being full Of vigorous sap, farmers generally
hoped and believed but little injury was done
by that wind, but we are convinced if they
have not already discovered their mis-
take they can easily do so by a
close examination of the wheat heads.
The prospects at that time were good for one
of the heaviest yields of wheat the State had
ever produced. The straw was heavy, strong
and thick on the ground, and the heads or
ears were long and well developed, promising
almost uniformly three and four kernels in
each glume or set of blossoms alternating on
opposite sides of the spikelet or head Had
there been no north wind to interfere with
the prospect at that time, we have but little
doubt that the average crop of the State
would have reached thirty and possibly forty
bushels to the acre. But few days blasted
this prospect, and the frequent winds since
are doing their work more effectually than
even farmers generally are aware Of Ii they
will now go into their disappearing wheat
fields and examine the heads carefully, they
will find that, though they have
the appearance of being well filed,
but very few have more than. two kernels,
when there are husks or glumes for four,
thus in single change not noticeable to the
casual observer reducing the prospect of the
crop fifty per cent. We are now speaking OF
those fields and spots that still retain the
best appearance and present the most favor
able prospect. The early and most prom
ising wheat in nearly every section of the
State has been rendered more or less spotted
and sheathed Those spots and streal,s that
promised best as rule have been the most
injured. This is the result not, as many ia
agine, of different temperature in different
strealss of the wind, but of different qualities
and different conditions of the soil. Wheat
on alkaii spots as a rule has suffered more
than that on soil adjoining that has no alkali
-, ~,
in the came field, but in different condition
from some artificial cause, has the wheat
mu>h more injured upon i. than the soil i'm
mediately adjoining. Strips of wheat not to
exceed two feet wide and running the whole
length Of the field may De seen completely
straw and heads having no life
in them, and having Il dead white color
This has not been caused by any difference in
the character or quality of the soil or streaks
in the wind, but in the peculiar condition of
the SOIL which has produced different state
or condition Of the grain at the time the
north wind struck it. For instance, this
strip, if examined, may be found to be where
the land was struck cut in blowing, and two
burrows may have been thrown together
called .back-furrowing- being a little
higher and looser, became warmer and
brought the grain forward little faster
and happened to be in the exact condition to
be most injured. We know from experience
that it is an unpleasant thing to do, but if
farmers would know the worst, the actual
condition of their wheat and their real fnan-
cial prospects, they had better go into their
and examine the heads of wheat
in all the differently appearing spots and
strips, and base their calculations upon what
such examinations reveal