74 



No. 246. Triticiim aestivum Linn. Wheat. 



Wlieat in its many vaiit-ties is one of the most important of the trne grasses. It is 

 one of the oldest of the cnltivatecl cereals, the grains having been found in very 

 ancient Egyptian monuments, dating back to 2,500 or 3,000 B. C. The numerous 

 varieties are distinguished by the firmness of the axisof tlie spike (continuous), . 

 or its brittleuess (articulated); by the presence or absence of awns or beard; by 

 the color of the chafF. and color and size of the grain. TrUieum ceativum speltum, 

 of which there are a number of snbvarieties, is one of the oldest gi-ains, an<l was 

 everywhere cultivated throughout the Koman Empire, forming the chief grain 

 of Egypt and Greece. It is still grown to some extent in parts of Europe, notably 

 in northern Spain and southern Germany. In 189.5 the wheat crop of the United 

 States was placed at 467,102,947 bushels, while the wheat crop of the world is 



estimated at 2,400,000,000 bushels. For a 

 discussion of the classification of the vari- 

 eties of wheat, see Ilackel's True Grasses 

 (English translation), and the Fourth 

 Annual Report of the New York Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station, 1885. 



No. 247. Triticum polonicum Linn. Wild- 

 goose Wheat. 



A very striking species or variety of wheat, 

 with largo, compressed, and usually bluish- 

 green spikes or heads. The native coun- 

 try of this Triticum is not known, but it 

 probably originated in Spain, where it is 

 now cultivated to a considerable extent. 

 It is also cultivated more or less in Italy 

 and Abyssinia. The long and slender fruit 

 resembles rye, l)ut is ou the whole larger. 

 It has sometimes been advertised by seed 

 dealers and sold to fanners under the name 

 of (Jiant Rye. It is inferior to many other 

 varieties, for, although the heads present 

 a fine appearance, the production of ker- 

 nels is small; consequently the yield of 

 "■rain is light. 



'No. 248. Uniola latifolia Michx. Broad- 

 leafed Spike-grass. (Fig. 89.) 

 Erect, with rather stout, leafy stems 2 to 4 

 feet high, and drooping panicles of large, 

 llat spikelets. The leaves are broad and 

 widely spreading, and these, together 

 with the graceful, nodding, open panicles, render it jdeasing in aiijiearance and 

 worthy of cultivation for ornament. It lias very strong, ereeiiing roots, and is 

 found chielly along streams and thicket borders from Pennsylvania southward 

 and westward to Illinois. A grass of little or no agricultural value. 



No. 249. Uniola paiiiculata Linn. Seaside Oats. 



A native, with stout, erect stems :? to 5 feet high, long, rigid leaves, and showy nod- 

 ding panicles of broad, i)ale straw-colored spikelets. Tiie panicles are gathered 

 for flry boni|Uets, and are often seen in our markets, along with tiie plumes of 

 I'ampas-grass. It grows in the drifting sands along tlie seashore, just above 

 higli tide, from Virginia soutliward to Florida, and along the Gulf Coast west- 

 ward to Texas. It is an excellent sand binder, its rootstocks being very strong 

 and penetrating deeply into the soil, much like those of Beach or Marram grass. 



Fio. 89.— Broad-leafed Spiko-grass {Vniola 

 lalijoliu). 



