84 THE WHEATS OF BALUCHISTAN 



and Persia bringing rain and snow. Both are precarious and may fail 

 entirely. 



The soil of the Kurrani Valley is very fertile wherever irrigation is obtain- 

 able. Owing to the unsettled nature of the country in the past, however, no 

 permanent system of irrigation has been made and irrigation is only carried 

 on by small channels made and owned by a hamlet or a family. There are 

 two harvests, the autumn harvest of rice, maize and oilseeds and the spring 

 harvest of wheat, barley and clover, of which the former is the more valuable 

 although the spring harvest is now increasing in importance. 



II. CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE 



WHEATS. 



A. CLASSIFICATION OF THE WHEATS OF THE KURRAM 



VALLEY. 



Triticum vulgare ViLL. Common wheats. 

 I. Ears bearded. 



1. Glumes smooth. 



A. Glumes red. 



{a) Grain red. 



var. ferruginemn Al. 



Kurram Valley Class I. 



(6) Grain white. 



var. erylhroleucon Kcke. 



Kurram Valley Class II. Ears long ; grain long, somewhat grey in 

 tone ; straw stout. 



Rurram Valley Class III. Ears short ; glumes short and rounded ; 

 grain short with a distinct huni]>. yellow in tone ; straw weak. 



B. Glumes white. 



(a) Grain red. 

 var. erylhrospermum Kcke. 



Kurram Valley Class IV. Ears l(»ng ; glumes long ; grain long, very 

 paU; yc^Uowish red. 



