272 THE WHEAT PLANT 



Although the number in each ear is large, the spikelets even at the 

 base and apex being usually fertile, the total yield in weight is low as the 

 individual grains are small. 



GROUP V. In this group is included a large series of Spring wheats, 

 bearded forms of which are most prevalent. They are very extensively 

 cultivated in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United States, Canada, and 

 Argentina, and are early forms, coming into ear at the end of May or first 

 ten days of June at Reading. 



The young shoots are erect or semi-erect, and the straw usually of 

 medium height ; in some forms the leaves are yellowish-green, in others 

 glaucous. 



The ears are lax and compressed, the face considerably wider than the 

 2-rowed side, the usual density 17-21, spikelets 2- to 3-grained, glumes 

 somewhat thin, the grain often visible between the glumes, generally 

 flinty and of good milling quality. 



GROUP VI. The wheats of this group are winter forms, late, coming 

 into ear at Reading during the second or third week in June. The young 

 shoots are prostrate, the young leaves narrow, and in many Russian forms 

 strikingly pubescent, the straw somewhat tall and slender. The ears 

 are similar to those of the previous group, lax and compressed, 9-13 cm. 

 long, usual density 17-21, but some forms have a density of 23-27 ; the 

 spikelets are broad, 2- to 3-grained, with thin glumes, which frequently 

 do not cover the grain. 



The grain is generally flinty and of good milling quality. 



The bearded forms of these wheats are very widely distributed in 

 Eastern Europe, and are grown also in the United States and Canada, and 

 occasionally in Holland and France and other countries of Western 

 Europe. 



GROUP VII. The Squarehead Group (see p. 296). In this are included 

 a number of Winter wheats grown chiefly in Western Europe, where 

 intensive cultivation is practised, and there is need of the highest yields 

 per acre in order to secure a remunerative return from the land. 



The young shoots are prostrate or semi-prostrate, the straw short 

 and stiff, ears dense, of the Squarehead type (2, Fig. 189 ; 1,2, Fig. 190). 



They have a long growing period and are very prolific. The grain is 

 usually soft and mealy and the flour of moderate baking quality. 



The majority are beardless forms. 



