10 



THE WHEAT INDUSTRY 



which bear the beards. If there is an opportu- 

 nity, we should observe heads of wheat, and count 

 the spikelets, noting whether they are open, 

 compact, or crowded in the head. Opening the 

 spikelets, we should count the number of kernels 



FIG. 5. The upper end of a sphere (at the left) showing spikelets, glumes, 



beards, and kernels. 



in each and see whether they are held in position 

 firmly or loosely. Most wheats have two or three 

 kernels in each spikelet. 



The Grain. - The most useful product of the 

 head is the grain. Do we know what a kernel or 

 grain of wheat is like ? Many people cannot tell 

 it from rye or barley and some cannot tell it from 

 corn. 



