Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-10-06

rust proof wheat. Rust may appear
on the blades of it, and will to certain
extent injure it but will do it less harm
than any variety / know of,
The experience of every farmer the
present year (Which has been one in
which rust has been unusually destruc-
tive to the farmers hopes) will corrobo-
rate this statement, and / am of the
opinion that those who have tried the
smooth headed varieties are the worst
sufferers, and will always be in this
latitude. This variety, if well put in
on reasonably fair land, is a thrifty
grower and forms large, strong stalk
that will stand in the field many days
after the seed natures before falling
down. 1t bears generally only two
grains to the mesh, as it is called, but
these are large and long, of a reddish
finty appearance, and now stands high
est in the market.
A mistaken idea on the part of many
farmers, in my judgment, is one of the
causes of deterioration in wheat. We
frequently hear the boast of some one
that his wheat has five grains to the
mesh, and straightway he holds out his
wheat as an extra variety and at pre-
MUM for seed wheat. When so many
grains are famed there will generally
be not a single frst>class grain among
them-all will be small and Indifferent,
and those at the small end of the mesh
will be worthless. This is so according
to the laws of nature. Even an ami
NAL with large brood of young can,
not give as much support to them as
she could with half the number and
they are correspondingly small. Such
is more particularly the case in the veg
etable kingdom. Isuppose most every
person Certainly every experimental
farmer) has tried to raise the many
cared prolific corn that every once in
while is advertised under some new
name. One years trial is usually suf-
ficient The number of ears may be
increased but they are found to be little
and worthless for the farmers use. So
it is by multiplying the number of
grains in a head or mesh of wheat.
This you can do by sowing that kind
of seed, as you can by planting corn
that bears many little ears to thestalk,
but it is at the expense of the health
and vigor of the plant. These small
grains, although dwarfed and famished
for want Of sustenance, will neverthe-
less grow, but the stalk will necessarily
be small and sickly. These small
grains are usually thrown out by the
use of good implements for cleaning
and separating the seed, and in this
way the wheat to some extent is pro-
tected from the bad husbandry of the
farmer. But some such seed will be
left, or if none be, its hereditary effect
will be seen in the wheat raised from
such seed.
Two large well matured grains to
: the mesh is better than five, and gen.
orally will weigh more, and as the seed
is large and well matured, so will the
plant that springs from it be vigorous
and healthy in proportion.
My conclusion is that the best way
to guard against rust or any other pest
that may affiict the wheat or grain
crop, is to procure and maintain first
class seed and improve them if you can.
This may be done by procuring good
seed of similar variety from other
places and mix them every two or
5 three years. This is my plan, and |
believe good results follow from it.
} Put the ground in as good condition as
possible and sow your wheat early, and
not too much for the soil to bear. II
) your soil is thin, do not put so much
seed on the ground as if the soil was
J stronger. If you have manure or fer
tilizers put them on the soil and it will
| add to the growth and strength of the
plant, which will in time give better
yield and better quality. By all
means plant early, so that good root
o can be formed before winter Don't