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THE WHEAT CULTTTEIST. 



The Alabama Variety. 



This variety is sometimes known better by the White 

 May Wheat. Before this variety had been injured by 

 injudicious culture and defective manage- 

 ment, it was one of the most perfect varieties 

 of white wheat ever cultivated. The ears 

 and fine white grain closely resemble the 

 celebrated White Flint Wheat. In many 

 instances, this variety did not seem to en- 

 dure the cold of winter as well as many other 

 varieties. Before the Alabama Wheat had 

 been mingled with other varieties of seed, 

 with which the growing wheat was allowed 

 to hybridize, a bushel of the grain would 

 yield as large a percentage of superfine flour 

 as any other known variety. But by per- 

 functory management in saving the seed, this 

 valuable grain, in many localities, has lost 

 its identity. The Alabama was nearly 

 midge-proof so long as the purity of the 

 variety was maintained. In some localities, 

 this variety, at the present writing — Novem- 

 ber 1867 — is cultivated with eminent satis- 

 faction. Klippart says " it ripens about the 

 same time the Mediterranean does, but is 

 easily winter-killed, thus betraying its south- 

 ern origin ; yields eighteen to twenty bushels 

 under ordinary circumstances ; it comes highly recom- 

 mended from Morgan County. Its general appearance 

 is very like that of the White Blue-stem, with this dif- 

 ference, viz. : the head, when fully ripe, is a deeper yel- 

 low than the Blue-stem ; the stem just below the head is 



Fig. 20. 

 Alabama wheat 



