74 



No. 246. Triticum aestivum Linn. Wheat. 



Wheat in its many varieties is one of the most important of the true grasses. It is 

 one of the oldest of the cultivated 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 axis of the spike (continuous), 

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

 the color of the chalf, and color and size of the grain. Triticum astirnm speltiim, 

 of -n-hich there are a number of subvarieties, is one of the oldest grains, and was 

 everywhere cultivated throughout the Roman 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 1895 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 Hackel's True Grasses 

 (English translation), and the Fourth 

 Annual Report of the New York Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station, 188.5. 



No. 247. Triticum polonicum Linn. Wild- 

 goose Wheat. 

 A very striking species or variety of wheat, 

 with large, 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, but is on the whole larger. 

 It has sometimes been advertised by seed 

 dealers and sold to farmers under the name 

 of (iiant 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 

 grain is light. 

 No. 248. Uniola latifolia Michx. Hroad- 



leafed Spike-grass. (Fig. 89.) 

 Erect, with rather stout, leafy stems 2 to 4 

 feet high, and drot)i)ing panicles of large. 

 Hat spikelets. The leaves are broad and 

 widely spreading, and these, togetlicr 

 with the graceful, nodding, open panicles, render it pleasing in appearance and 

 worthy of cultivation for ornament. It has very strong, creeping roots, and is 

 found chieriy along streams and thicket borders from Fcnnsylvania southward 

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



No. 249. Uniola pauiculata Linn. Seaside Oats. 



A native, with stout, erect stems 3 to 5 feet high, long, rigid leaves, and showy nod- 

 ding panicles of broad, pale straw-colored spikelets. The panicles are gathered 

 for dry bou<iuets, and are often seen in our markets, along with the plumes of 

 Pampas-grass. It grows in the drifting sands along the seashore, .just above 

 high tide, from Virginia southward to Florida, and along the Gulf Coast west- 

 war<l to Texas. It is an excellent saiul binder, its rootstocks being very strong 

 and penetrating deeply into the soil, nmch like those of Beach or Marram gra.98, 



Fig. 89.— Broad-leafed Spike-grass {Uniola 

 latifolia). 



