24 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and from thence 

 it spread in all directions, and has become the 

 principal food plant of civilized nations. 



Four distinct species of wheat are recognized 

 as parents of the cultivated varieties: i. Com- 

 mon wheat (Triticum vulgar e) bearded and beard- 

 less, white and red, winter and spring an 

 ancient type. 2. Poulard wheat (T. turgidum) 

 called Egyptian wheat, and "wheat of miracle," 

 because its spikes break into fruitful branches. 

 Not an old type. 3. Hard wheat (T. durum) 

 probably derived from common wheat. 4. Polish 

 wheat ( 7'. polonicum) the German gummer, a large 

 plant, with small heads, much grown in Spain. 



Related to wheat proper are the spelts, one- 

 grained species, with a husk around each kernel, 

 and the two-grained, or starch wheat, called em- 

 mer. These are comparatively primitive and un- 

 important grains. 



How does a variety originate? This is one way. 

 Mr. Abraham Fultz was walking though his 

 wheat field one day, and he happened to see a 

 plant that bore three heads of beardless wheat, in 

 a field that was bearded. He gathered the heads, 

 which were large, and the kernels good. He 

 planted them the next year, and the plants pro- 

 duced were so fruitful that he decided to save all 



