Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-23

III Tracing Cnen, the DuSh9I SGAn Sc tt4
twelve or fifteen bushels that eonls lalso
the farmers granary, we have to msaire
what proportion of the seed gsfanlnates,
how much Of it is destroyed by birds, mice.
insects, and how much grain is shed from
over-ripeness or lost in harvesting and
thrashing. A very considerable quantity,
without doubt, Is the aggregate loss from
these causes combined. Still the immense
difference between the quantity that can
be, and theoretically ought to be produc
ed, and that which actually goes into the
wheat bin, remains to be accounted for.
The loss of grain in the various processes
of harvesting evidently must be much
greater than is commonly supposed. If
one take ripe wheat-ear and strike it on
a table he will see some grains fall out;
and if he will examine where the wheat
sheaf has fallen he will find not few
kernels that have been shed. Certainly
the volunteer" growths after harvesting
are sufficient evidence of waste.
To ascertain, with something like &C.
curacy, the actual produce of the wheat
plant, DR.. Paley planted small piece of
garden ground, of moderate wheat-grow-
ing quality, with three separate parcels,
each of 50 average wheat grains. Of these
three parcels, the first (A) was sown
broadcast; the second (B) was set in two
rows, after the manner of drilled wheat;
the third (C) in separate grains six inches
apart-all carefully covered with earth.
Besides these he planted twelve grains 81
inches deep (D), and three gra1nssin each
of 3 holes, inch deep (E). OF group A,
Is came up, and produced l plant of 8
stalks, 6 of !. 8 of 5, of and OF 9; with
total of 14S ear-bearing stalks; of B, 80
plants grew, giving of 2, 8 of 8, of 4,
10 of 5. 6 of 7, 8 Of 10 and l of IL, with a
total of al; of q, 80 plants grew, produc-
ing a total of 14S ear-bearing stalks; of D,
not a single one germinated; and of E.,
only l, which did not thrive we'll. The
nearness OF the totals of the first three is
remarkable. If thus we estimate an aver.
age of 8 stalks from each grain sowr, and
for each ear of sound grains, wegshould
have yield of $50 fold.
What. then are the reasons of such an
extraordinary difference sbetween theory
and practice? Besides the various kinds
of blight, such as smut and mildew, af-
fecting the straw or the ear, and greatly
diminishing the production, there are
other causes why wheat is said to thrash
out badly, which are less visible while
the crop is standing. One of these is the
partial filling of the ear; there is more
chaff than there should be in proportion
to the grain. There is a popular idea about
the wheat plant which is entirely erIone-
Gus. It thought that, If high winds pre-.
vail while the wheat is in flower, the an
theirs, which are seen dangling from the
ears, will be blown off, and the grain will
not set through the loss of pollen. Year
after year we see this stated in agrieul-
tural papers and grain reports. But the
fact is, these anther, when protruded,
have already performed the Office of i'm
pregnation; which takes place within the
closed glumes. The showers" seen hang
ing down are exhausted anthers, and
wholly useless. The following expert
ments seem conclusive proof of this -
Let one gather dozen green Wheat-ears
from plant that is just beginning to
flower, and keep them for an hour or two
in warm room in glass Of water. The