CHAPTER XIV 

 WHEAT IN THE UNITED STATES 



AMONG all the countries of the world, the term 

 "first in wheat ' is one which may be correctly 

 applied to the United States. While Russia 

 sometimes excels her in amount produced, this 

 country can still claim first honors because of 

 steady production and high quality, and because 

 wheat is the principal breadstuff for all the Amer- 

 ican people. Although its relative importance 

 varies widely in different sections of the country, 

 wheat is raised in almost every state in the Union. 

 Since conditions are so diverse, it is first necessary, 

 in order that the wheat situation may be viewed 

 fairly, to study the different wheat regions sep- 

 arately. The dividing of the country into these 

 regions also becomes a problem, since any basis of 

 classification must include soil, topography, cli- 

 mate, and the kinds of wheat produced. Further- 

 more, because of the variation in all these factors 

 there is likely to be difference of opinion concern- 

 ing where to draw the division lines. The follow- 

 ing regions, however, may be suggested : north- 



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