cS 



THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



is essential to successful wheat culture. A number of otherwise 

 desirable varieties cannot be successfully grown on account of 

 their lateness in maturing. 



93. Variety Groups.^ — The different varieties can be divided 

 easily into eight groups in accordance with three external char- 

 acters as follows : 



Wheat - 



Bearded 



Beardless 



Glumes white 



Glumes bronze 



Glumes white 



Glumes bronze 



r Grain red — i 

 ( Grain white — 2 

 C Grain red — 3 

 ( Grain white — 4 

 Grain red — 5 

 Grain white — 6 

 ( Grain red — 7 

 ( Grain white — 8 



1 



In some varieties with bronze glumes the glumes are velvety 

 mstead of smooth, as is usually the case. The color of the 

 grain varies from a light yellow, usually called white, to a deep 

 red. In some cases the intermediate color is referred to as 

 amber. In the markets wheat is referred to as either red 

 or white. With the exceptions just noted, different varieties 

 coming in any one of the eight groups will usually resemble 

 each other closely and need to be subjected to a rigid test to 

 determine their right to be called separate varieties. Beardless 

 varieties with red berries are the most numerous and most 

 generally cultivated. It has not been demonstrated that there 

 is any difference in yield between red and w^hite or bearded 

 and beardless wheats. Two thousand years ago Columella 

 recommended bearded wheats for low moist land and beard- 



