THE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 49 



the variety is not so hardy as it should be. Every wheat- 

 grower should take critical observations on this subject, 

 with a purpose to reject a variety that will not endure 

 the winter satisfactorily, and to improve those kinds 

 that appear most hardy. 



6. Regularity of Rows of Grain. A perfect variety 

 of wheat will produce regular and uniform rows of 

 grain; and the kernels will all appear of a uniform 

 shape and color. When the variety is not perfect, the 

 heads will exhibit irregularities of form, like the Weeks 

 Wheat on a succeeding page. The Andriolo shows a 

 perfect wheat. The form of the heads, the color and 

 shape of the kernels, may &quot;always be relied on, as a cer 

 tain index to the purity of the variety. 



7. Stiffness of Straw. Some kinds of wheat will 

 lodge, or fall flat to the ground, long before harvest 

 time ; while the stems of another kind will maintain an 

 erect position until the grain is perfectly matured. The 

 ears of grain will never swell out full and plump, filled 

 with large kernels, if the stems are not kept in an erect 

 position till harvest time. Grain that has a slender 

 straw, therefore, should be rejected ; and a variety should 

 be chosen that produces stems which will not lodge, 

 unless the growing crop is beaten down by protracted 

 storms in connection with driving wind. 



THE HABIT OF THE WHEAT PLANT. 



By habit is understood the manner of growth and 

 development of the stem, leaves, and roots. In order to 

 be able to cultivate wheat with satisfactory success, a 

 farmer should have a correct understanding and a lively 

 appreciation of the habit of the growing plants, which 

 will enable him to prepare the soil, put in the seed at 



3 



