The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
Wheat-Cheat.

MEssRs. EDITORS There has long
been controversy between scientists
and others less scientific, but perhaps
practically more knowing as to the
possibility OF wheat producing chess
or cheat.
AS theorist | was once strongly
fixed on the side of the scientists, but
nevertheless, always open to convic-
ton.
Having, a number OF years since,
discussed the question with my over
seer, laughing at his declaration that
whatever others might believe on the
subject, he knew what he knew as well
as the most scientific man in the
world could know what he knew, and
that he would sometime demonstrate
clearly the affirmative of the PROPOSE
ton that wheat does produce cheat.
l replied would believe whenever he
would show me the chess stems spring
ing out of, and dependent upon, the
wheat roots for nourishmcnt and
growth.
That very Autumn sowed TWEEN
ty acre field in two kinds of wheat,
about ten acres in each. The wheat
was all sown about the same time and
put in the same way, came up well
and seemed to survive the winter, and
started out with the same appearance
of thrift in the Spring.
About the time for sending up the
stem and head, half the field stretched
up and headed all right, while the
other half seemed to stand still, not
sending up single head in ten yards
square over the whole area, but grad
ually yellowed and seemed for many
days to be dying. Examination dis
closed the fact that the Hessian fly
was literally destroying the young
wheat. In few days however a new
thrifty growth of blades appeared on
the west Of the stools, and soon this
ten acres was as green as meadow
again, and began to stem up for head
ing. But when the heads appeared
they proved to be wholly chess with a
very meagre sprinkling of short wheat
heads here and there. 1t was as com
plete field of cheat as if the seed had
been carefully selected and evenly
sown.
When in full head my overseer came
to me with mischievous twinkle in
his eye, and a bushel basket in his
hand and said, come with me now,
want to show you something. He also
carried spade with him. He lead
the way to the cheat field, and when
we reached the field, he carefully filled
his basket with cheat stoels with all
stems and roots unbroken, and the
dirt adhering.
These we took to the river, washed
the dirt clearly from the roots, and
then made a close and critical investi
CATION as to the source of the cheat
growth.
In nearly every stool of roots We
found the original hull Of the SEED
wheat yet attached to the origina
: root. At the top of each stool wert
{, the dead wheat blades still adherinl
to the crest, and connected with thu
roots OF the wheat, to which were still
attached the original seed, and thu
> wheat blades, and likewise the stems
of the cheat in full head. We had NJ
microscope for none was needed. TIL,
, connection of the chess stems With til,
: wheat roots as the only source of thei
life, growth and development, was a
clearly, and as fully and completed,
! demonstrated to the source as is TIL
Y connection between the stem of an,
q forest tree and its roots.
The overseer triltmphed, and | wa
convinced, beyond the possibility of
! doubt, that the true science of Me cas-,
l is found in the conclusion compelle,
by the logic OF facts, the theories o
scientists to the contrary notwith
standing, Yours,
: n. g. TAYLOR.
Happy Valley, Carter CO., Mich. Is. 81