CEREAL IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCTIONS 163 



states farther east, where soft wheats are chiefly culti- 

 vated. Spring varieties formed the basis of a large 

 proportion of the wheat production. But the spring 

 wheats were rusted, injured by drought because of late 

 maturity, and in some seasons almost wholly destroyed 

 by chinch bugs, while the soft winter sorts, such as White 

 Michigan and Poole, also rusted badly, and were not able 

 always to stand the winters. For some time these defects 

 were overcome in great measure by the use of the variety 

 Odessa, popularly called " grass " wheat in some localities, 

 which is probably equivalent to the variety Ulka of south- 

 ern Russia. It is hardy, red-grained, rather rust-resistant, 

 and has the additional advantage of being adapted for 

 either autumn or spring sowing. A little later, the well- 

 known variety Fultz also became quite popular in the 

 West, as it is still in the greater part of the United States. 

 155. Turkey or Crimean wheat. But the variety 

 which more than all others finally completely changed 

 the status of wheat culture in this district, is that which 

 is commonly but unfortunately known as Turkey. It is 

 an awned, hard red wheat of the highest class, coming 

 originally from the Crimea in southern Russia, and not 

 from Turkey, as the name would imply. The wheat was 

 introduced by the Menonites into Harvey and McPher- 

 son counties, Kansas, about the year 1873. Each settler 

 brought one bushel of seed from the Molochna district 

 in northern Taurida, to which locality it came from the 

 Crimea in 1860. Within a very small area in Kansas, 

 Turkey wheat has been grown about forty years, but its 

 merits did not become generally known until about 1890. 

 It then soon became the popular wheat and made fall 

 seeding practicable much beyond the previous northern 

 limit of winter wheat-growing. The flour has obtained 



