Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Gelston, David" AND Recipient="Jefferson, Thomas" AND Period="post-Madison Presidency"
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/98-01-02-4511

To Thomas Jefferson from David Gelston, 4 September 1824

NY Sep 4. 1824

Dr Sir,

In a tour last summer I found a remarkable species of wheat a Gent gave me four hands with the following account. that a Gent in Vermont had imported a package of goods from China. opening it—he found from the straw he threw out, a single blade which he cultivated & which produced the wheat

On the 15 Sep: last I planted the 4 grains about 6 inches from each other. they produced 62 stalks & 62 clusters the growth about 4 feet high, I counted 6 clusters (memo enclosed) which I supposed a fair average of the whole I herewith enclose, a cluster & a few seeds—the grains I recd were large & fine—the whole of mine, were blasted (we suppose) by a large barberry bush which stood very near the wheat I have planted a number of grains this season to ascertain the fact whether they would grow . I find them shoot up & appear Strong & vigorous many Gent have called to view the wheat no one can give any account of it of the quality of the wheat, the best mode, of cultivating it, the soil best adapted , & the best time for sowing I know nothing

CtMyMHi: David Gelston Papers.

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