REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



141 



and differing from that in just the direction in which the two climates 

 differ. It ripens without an op])ortunity to fill out with starch, and con- 

 sequently is relatively rich in aibumiuoids. The same number of grains 

 may not contain any more nitrogen, absolutely, than an equal number 

 of Colorado grains. 



It is astonishing to sec, however, the result of sending seed wheat from 

 both Oregon and from Minnesota to Colorado and growing" them tlierc 

 for several years. The two in a short time so nearly resemble each 

 other that they can be distinguished only by their color. A few more 

 years would make them still more similar. They have assumed all the 

 Colorado characteristics, and no better illustration of the snsccptibility 

 of wheat to its environment could be asked than to look at the samph-s 

 which have proved this. 



The localities mentioned- possess characteristics more marked thaii 

 most others, but in a miuor degree the crops of the middle West, the 

 East, and the South can be distinguished. It must be said that in the 

 tlirection of latitude the changes in this grain, as with corn, is more in 

 the yield per acre and size than in the chemical composition. They are 

 not so marked, however, as can he seen in the following table : 



Yield per acre of wheat [1879]. 



States. 



Maine 



Xew Hampshire ... 



Vermont 



MasR.icliusetts 



Rliode Island 



Connecticut 



i^ew Yorls 



New Jersey 



Pennsylvania ....... 



Delaware 



Maryland 



Virjiinia 



North Carolina 



Yield. 



15.2 

 15.0 

 16.3 

 16.4 

 14.1 

 17. C 

 15.7 

 12.7 

 1.3.5 

 13.4 

 14.1 

 8.7 

 5.2 



States. 



South Carolina 



Georgia 



Florida 



Louisiana ..... 



Texas 



Arkansas 



Tennes.'.ee 



West Virj^inia,, 



Kentuel<y , 



Ohio 



Michigan 



Indiana , 



Illinois 



Yield. 



5.6 



6.6 



5.2 



3.4 



0.8 



6.2 



6.1 



10.2 



9.8 



18.0 



11). 5 



13.0 



15.9 



states. 



Wisconsin 

 !Miinieaota 



Iowa 



Missouri .. 



Kansas 



Xohraska . 

 Alal'.auia . . 

 Mississippi 

 Nevada . . . 

 C.Vufornia . 



Oreijou 



Colorado .. 



Yield. 



12.8 



11.4 



10.2 



12.0 



9.3 



9.4 



5. 7 



5.0 



18.9 



15.8 



16.8 



22.0 



It is desirable in this connection to call attention to the fact that 

 three-quarters of the wheat crop of the country is produced in ten 

 States, and that its average composition is influenced by their situation. 

 These States were, in 1879, according to the census, Illinois, Indiana, 

 Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, California, Missouri, Wisconsin, and 

 Pennsylvania. Our conclusions for the average production must be 

 proportionately influenced by this fact. 



The variations which take place in the same locality in any one va- 

 riety from year to year are found to be due chiefly to diflerence in the 

 seasons, and the impressions which they make upon the grain are some- 

 times lasting. Some varieties, which improve on their advent to a new 

 locality, or at least hold their own for a number of years, gradually de- 

 teriorate from careless cultivation or for natural causes beyond the con- 

 trol of the farmer. It is unnecessary to remark on the ease with which 

 neglect in cultivation or lack of care in selection of the seed is product- 

 ive of injurious results. In the way of natural and unavoidable causes, 

 storms during the active period of growth produce the greatest changes 

 in the composition of the grain. The effects produced may be of differ- 

 ent natures, according to the stage of formation of the grain, but the 

 results in any case are not recovered from for some time unless a change 



