Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1869 [PAGE 230]

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216 the wet. New ground is sufficiently porous for drainage purposes; clover roots furnish drainage downwards. Then plowing in the method I have described, throwing your furrows inward, you will finally get rid of surplus water. I plow with a right-hand plow, and, as before stated, the team turns on the hard ground, which makes it easier for them, and the plowed ground is not injured. Dr. GREGORY—Happening to be at Madison county fair, and seeing some fine specimens of wheat shown there, I begged for a few kernels to put in our cabinet, for the inspection and study of all interested in the matter. I now wish to request others to do the same thing, and send up specimens of the different varieties of wheat for the cabinet, and also for sowing here for trial. This is a matter of some interest and importance, and would doubtless do some good. Dr. GREGORY—I wish to inquire whether any one has tried the plan of mulching the wheat plants as we mulch the strawberry. Have you seen this tried ? Mr. PERIAM—I wrould say it has been practiced in Cook county with most excellent results. It prevents the heaving of the ground, which exposes the roots of the plant and breaks them. This heaving is caused by the constant subjection of the land to freezing and thawing. It throws out the roots entirely above the ground. Another fact which I have observed, that the localities for wheat growing are traveling west. We can raise wheat on new lands, but as the soil becomes old and worn we fail to get good crops. Sod land is the best for wheat. Wheat does not freeze out in sod land. We see an illustration of this in the vigorous stocks in the fence corners. Mr. FLAGG—We have discussed pretty fully the preparation of the ground, and should now give attention to some other points. I therefore submit the following motion : I move to take up the question, 1. Of drilling and sowing broadcast. 2. The cultivation of wheat. 3. The time of cutting it. 4. Then of stacking it. 5. Next the question of threshing ot wheat. 6. And, in the last place, the value of wheat as a farm product. Adopted.