Daily National Intelligencer

FLY-PROOF WHEAT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.

Noticing in the Enquirer a publication from Fauquier county, respecting the fly-proof wheat, I deem it proper to give to the Public my own experience of it value, referring to many whom I have furnished, who can testify practically, as to their successful cultivation of it. Being at Wm. Hunton's in Fauquier county in the summer of 1813, I obtained from him, a small quantity of wheat, of which he said he was making an experiment, having procured it of a Mr. Lawler. I got of him about a quart. I sowed it the 16th Oct. broad cast, contiguous to other wheat, from which I made 2 bushels and 3 pecks There was no appearance of Fly in it, whilst the other kinds were a good deal affected. I furnished Mr. John Rogers, of Milton, with a peck of it, and sowed the remaining 2 1-2 bushels, at the usual time, on land of not very good quality, and reaped a good crop, both in quantity and quality.

The other kind of wheat that I sowed of the Bearded, Yellow Chaff, and forward, yielded but little, and that not merchantable, except the forward wheat. The successful experience of its good qualities, and its capacity to resist the maladies incident to that valuable grain, induced me to call it by the distinguishing name of the Columbian wheat, not having heard of any other specific name, until the publication of the Fauquier agriculturists and by the name of Columbian wheat it is known in this neighborhood and others that I have furnished. From the seed of 2 1/2 bushels, I furnished the succeeding year, the following gentlemen with small quantities: Governor Barbour, Col. P. P. Barbour, Dr. Sheperd, Dr. Dade, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Conway, Mr. Campbell, and Col. Johnson of Orange, William F. Gordon, John Gordon, Thomas Matthew, and Fontaine Maury and Wiley Jackson of Albemarle, and Doctor Bankhead of Port Royal, leaving only 1 1/2 bushels for my own seeding, which I sowed in land of various qualities, some exhausted, and some improved; from the product of which, (the crop being unusually great,) I the last fall furnished about 50 persons with small quantities, who have all, as far as I can learn, reported favourably of it, and as not affected by the Fly, whilst every other kind was injured in a greater or less degree, & indeed some crops entirely destroyed. I sowed myself last fall, about 40 bushels of it, which promised me a greater crop for the land than I ever made even before the appearance of the Fly, whilst my other wheat in the same field, the Yellow Chaff, and forward, are nearly destroyed by the Fly.

I need make no additional recommendations to those made by the gentlemen of Fauquier. My own experience confirms them, and my neighbors know them—the wheat I have cultivated coming from the same stock. I have noticed all the peculiarities which they have reported. I will only subjoin as an evidence of the goodness of my present growing crop, that an experienced farmer in the neighborhood, gave me last week $150 for the produce of 1 3/4 bushels of seed. He saved it himself, and abides the risque of the crop from casualties.

CHARLES B. HUNTON.

Albemarle County, June 17th, 1817.