THE WHEAT CULTTJKIST. 89 



standard in relation to wheat, to which the farmers, 

 north, south, east, and west, could look for reliable in 

 formation, there would not be so much confusion in 

 regard to the varieties of wheat which are worthy of 

 cultivation. 



For example: Some competent person should be 

 authorized to collect several heads of all the improved and 

 approved varieties, from numerous sections of the coun 

 try; and then select a few ears of each variety, and 

 place them in glass cases, where farmers could see them 

 and compare their own grain with the standard samples 

 at headquarters. Besides this, every variety should be 

 neatly illustrated by an accurate engraving of one of 

 the standard ears of grain ; and accompanying each 

 illustration should be an intelligible and plain descrip 

 tion of every variety. Were I the authority in the 

 United States, I would do the same thing in this treatise. 

 But were I to attempt it, my efforts would only increase 

 the confusion in regard to the varieties of wheat, as my 

 illustrations and descriptions of certain varieties, which 

 might be quite correct in a given locality, would not 

 coincide with grain of those names in other sections of 

 the country. 



To illustrate still further the extreme difficulty of 

 attempting to do anything correctly, by way of estab 

 lishing the identity of any variety of grain, the reader 

 must remember that the author of this treatise may 

 give an illustration and description of numerous varie 

 ties of wheat, which are well known in some States, 

 but which may be very unlike them all in other States. 

 This difference should be settled by some authority 

 which the whole country will respect and receive as 

 correct. 



