25 



portions. From this cause the wheat is often badly shriveled, and l>oth 

 the yield and quality there1)y much att'ected. A slight compensation 

 for this loss lies in the fact that shiiveled wheat in this district is more 

 in demand for making macaroni than plump wheat, because of the 

 greater proportional amount of gluten in the former. In order to 

 escape the severe eti'ects of the drought, early maturing sorts are 

 exceedingly desirable. It would probably be no exaggeration to say 

 that a variety ripening ten to fifteen days earlier than the varieties now 

 used, and as good in other respects, would add from one to three 

 million dollars a year to the wealth of this region. In the central 

 and southern portions of the region fall sowing is chiefly practiced, 

 but in the northern and eastern portions, near the mountains, there 

 is a larger proportion of spring varieties, and there a good, hardy 

 winter sort is needed. In the drier western and southern portions, 

 especially in the vicinity of Walla Walla, nonshattering varieties 

 are necessary. There the combined harvester-thresher (Plate VI, 

 fig.l) is used in harvesting, as in California. In the north and east, 

 and in the more hilly portions, as in the vicinity of Colfax, the self- 

 binder is more commonly employed. In a few places a comparatively 

 new^ sort of machine has recently come into use. (Plate VI, tig. 2.) 

 It makes a 10 or 12 foot cut, and is driven in front of the horses, as 

 in the case of a header, but unlike the latter possesses a self-])inding 

 attachment as well. 



SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS AND NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT. 



(1) Principal varieties at present grown: 



Australian, Palouse Blue Stem, 



California Club, Palouse Red Chaff, 



Sonora, ■» Little Club, 



Oregon Red Chaff, White Winter, 



Foise. 



(2) Average yield per acre, about 14f bushels. 



(3) Needs of the grower: 



(a) Early maturity. 



(6) Nonshattering varieties. 



(c) Hardy winter varieties in the colder portions. 



SOURCES FOR DESIRABLE dUALITIES. 



Having descriVjed the characteristic features of the different wheat 

 districts of the country, and having noted the most pressing needs 

 of the grower in each one, respectively, it will now l)e api)r()priate to 

 discuss the sources from which the desii-able qualities may be ()l)tained 

 for satisfying these needs. This subject may be considered from two 

 different' standpoints, (1) the botanical subdivisions of th(> cultivated 

 varieties of wheat (Triticum) in the broadest sense, and (2) the geo- 

 graphic groups of varieties characteristic of difl'crent regions of the 



