233 



Another variety less coinraou during the Stone age, has been found 

 in "Western Switzerland and Italy, and still another vai'iety in Hung- 

 ary, grown apparently during the same period. A grain of this type of 

 wheat has been found in a brick belonging to the pyramid of Dashur, 

 to which is ascribed the date 3359 B.C. None of the.se vaiieties are 

 identical with any now grown. 



The Chinese cUiini to have grown it 2700 B.C. It is said to have 

 been introduced into America by a slave of Cortez, who found a few 

 grains in son' e rice brought from Spain. It reached Massachusetts in 

 1C02, Virginia in 1611, and the Mississippi valley about 1718. 



Botanists classify the wheat plant in its various forms under the 

 name Triticum vulgare. Some apply the name Triticum hybernum to 

 the bearded, and Triticum pestivium to the beardless form, while others 

 give these names to the winter and summer varieties, respectively. 



A number of vaiieties, on account of their compact spikes, have 

 been classified under the name of Triticum compactum. Other varieties 

 with a long, loose, nolditig spike and glumes long and bearded, a»e 

 known by the name of Triticum polonicura. The stems of this plant 

 have been known to grow to the length of six fee^ Triticum durum, 

 or horn wheat, is a flinty variety. It is cultivated extensively in the 

 vicinity of the Mediterranean, and yields a good crop in a very poor 

 soil. This variety is identical with the goose or rice wheat largely 

 grown in Canada to-day, and is almost worthless as a flouring w^heat. 



Mummy wheat is called Triticum compositum, probably on account 

 of the ears being composed of branches .sometimes to the number of ten 

 or twelve. A single ear of this w-heat frequently contains as many as 

 150 grains, and as it naturally follows, the quality is very poor. It has 

 been grown in Canada under the name of Egyptian wheat. 



A variety closely resembling mummy wheat is known in England 

 under the name of Clog wheat, a peculiarity of which is that the stem 

 contains a light pith. 



With reference to the wheat found in the tombs of Egy[)t there is 

 no evidence to show that a .single grain of it has ever sprouted. 



The varieties of wheat are now practically countless, one French 

 investigator having produced over 300. They differ in size, shape and 

 in the physical character of the berry; some are long, some short; some 



