We have in substance admitted, that mildewed seed will vegetate, though, in one instance, we remember of a held sown with such seed, where three-fourths of the grain at least lay altogether dormant; but we contend. even under the above admission, that such seed ought not to be trusted, since it furnishes plants unable to withstand the severe blasts of winter and spring. It is well known, that, in some seasons, even the strongest rooted wheat suffers severely ; and there is no doubt hut that the weak and feeble plants always perish first But what may be expected when the whole plants are weak and debilitated, as necessarily must be the case with those produced from light grain, till the corona' roots are formed, and able to search For food? When that period arrives, perhaps, the battle is in a great measure won ; but how many thousands may be slain before that stage is reached. That there is a danger from weak seed, and not a small one, wc presume will not be disputed ; and that the farmer who exposes him self to such a danger does not act wisely, requires no demonstration.
But another reason operates with us against the use of mildewed wheat, which at least deserves considera tion:—Is there not some risk that the disease may be conveyed from the parent to the crop, and that the pro duce may thereby be lessened ? We do not go so far as to say, that this disease, like smut, begets its like, though there is a degree of risk in the use of mildewed seed, which no prudent farmer would choose to hazard. who could avoid it. On this point, we have the respect able support of sir John Sinclair, baronet, who, in an address to the members of the Board of Agriculture. September 1795, says,—" Every exertion ought to be made to secure an abundant supply of wheat ; and, for the purpose of effecting so desirable an object, it is essentially necessary that none but the best seed should be made use of. In some parts of the kingdom, parti cularly in Yorkshire, the mildew has been much con: plained of ?lny seed ittfected with that disorder °ugh to be avoided as much as possible, and untainted seed, a• any expense, ought to be procured.'' Sir John, in thi-. advice, displays a correctness of opinion, which we tuns' will never be lost sight of by the farmers of Grew Britain, 7. On Harvest Management.—It is advantageous to cut wheat before it is fully ripe ; but in ascertaining the proper state, it is necessary to discriminate hetet the ripeness of the straw and the ripeness of the grain . for, in some seasons, the straw dies upwards; tmde. which circumstance, a field, to the eye, may appear le be completely fit for the sickle, in reality, tit grain is imperfectly consolidated, and pet haps tot mucl removed front a milky state. Though it is obvious tile'.
holder such tercum,tanees, no further benefit can be con veyed from the root, and that nourishment is withheld the moment that use roots die ; yet it does not follow, that grain r.n circumstanced should be immediately cut: because, after that operation is performed, it is in a great measure necessarily deprived of every benefit front the sun and air, both of which have greater influence in bringing it to maturity, so long as it remains on foot, than \•uen cut down, whether laid on the ground, or bound up in sheaves. The state ot the weather at the
line also deserves notice ; lOr, in moist, or even variable n eather, every kind or grain, when cut prematurely, is more exposed to damage than wilen completely ripened. All these things w ill be studied by the skilful husband Man, Nth° will also take into consideration the dangers which may follow, were he to permit his wheat crop to remain uncut till complexly ripened. The danger from wind will not be lost sight of, especially if the sea son ol the equinox approaches ; even the quantity drop pen in the field, and in the stack-yard, when wheat is over ripe, is an object of consideration. Taking all these things into t new, it Seems prudent to have wheat Cut before it is fully ripe, as less carnage will be sustain ed from acting in tills way than by adopting a contrary practice.
It the weather be dry, and the straw clean, wheat may be carted to the stack-yard in a few days ; in deed, if quite ripe, it may be stacked immediately from the sickle, especially when not meant for early thrashing. So long, howeker, as any moisture remains in the straw, the field will be found to be the best stackyard ; and where grass or weeds of any kind arc mixed with the crop, patience must be exerted till they are decayed and dried, lest heating be occasioned ; which, independent of the loss, is to toe farmer a most disgraceful affair.
8 On Th•ushin thrashing machines were introduced, the task of separating wheat from the straw was arduous and difficult. The expense was very considerable, whilst the severity of the labour almost exceeded the power of the strongest man, especially in unfavourable seasons, when the grain adhered perti naciously to the ear, and could not, without difficulty, be completely loosened and removed. In such seasons, expense was the smallest consideration which influenced the husbandman ; it was the quantity of grain unavoida bly lost which occupied his attention ; and, as it appeared difficult to find out a remedy, most people considered it as an evil which could scarcely be avoided. In short, the loss was great in almost every case, but greater with wheat than any other grain. Every thing of this nature, however, may be prevented, now that thrashing ma chines are introduced, provided the feeder is careful, and proportions the quantity on the board to the strength of the impelling power. Wheat, in fact, is now the cleanest thrashed grain ; because the length of the straw allows it to he properly beat out before it passes the machine, sometimes is not the case with short oats and barley. If horses arc used as the impelling power, thin feeding is necessary, otherwise the animals may be injured ; but wind or water is employed, the of thrashing is executed speedily, com pletely, and economically.