THE CINCINNATUS- 



VOL. I. OCTOBER 1, 1856. NO. 10. 



Wheat is by far the most important of the cereals. The flour 

 made from this valuable grain, from the quantity of its gluten, makes 

 the best bread in the world. It is probable there is more of the hu- 

 man family nourished by rice than by wheat, but there is no grain 

 of any thing like the value for bread-making as that of wheat. Indian 

 Corn, Oats, Barley, and Rye, supply its place but imperfectly. 



Of what country wheat is a native, is totally unknown, but is sup- 

 posed to be indigenous to Asia and Africa, and unquestionably it is 

 more likely to belong to those parts of the world than any other, but 

 all that can be advanced on this subject is conjecture. 



Wheat, with the exception, it is said, of some parts of the southern 

 coast of Africa, is cultivated in every part of the temperate and tor- 

 rid zones, and in some places as high as 2000 feet above the level of 

 the sea. It has been grown from time immemorial in Britain, but 

 in few places at a greater elevation than 600 feet, the elevation to 

 which any plant can be cultivated depending of course on the lati- 

 tude of the situation. 



Botanists reckon seven species of Triticum, besides many varieties 

 and sub-varieties in common culture. 



