SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF WHEAT. 



17 



The species of wheat are 1st, T. JEstivum, summer or spring wheat. 

 2, T. Hybernum, winter or lamas wheat, (var. 1 red, 2 white, both with- 

 out awns, 3 red, 4 white, both with awns) 3, T. Compositum, Many 

 spiked wheat ; 4, T. Turgidum, Duck Bill, Grey Pollard or cone 

 wheat; 5, T. Polonium; Polish wheat; 6, T. Spelta ; 7, T. Monoco- 

 cum. The remaining species of the genus are called wheat grasses and 

 are of no use in agriculture. Winter wheat is red and white, the grain 

 of the red is small; the white is chiefly cultivated here of which there 

 are two kinds, the best is the thin chaffed. 



The first, or Spring Wheat, as shown in the cut, is sup- 

 posed to be a native of Siberia : it is not so hardy as the 

 second, and it has a thinner and less erect stem, more slender 

 ear, with a longer beard or awn ; its grain is smaller and its 

 product less. The reason for its culture is the security it 

 affords against a cold and wet spring. It is sown in April 

 or May. Its nutritive properties are not equal to winter 

 wheat, by a difference of H per cent., and its gluten is as 19 to 24. 



Winter Wheat, or Lamas, as it is called in England, is sown in 

 Autumn ; it stands through the winter and ripens during the fol- 

 lowing summer. Its varieties are distinguished by a difference 

 of color in the tunic enclosing the grain. The colors are com- 

 monly red and white. The red is most hardy, but not so produc- 

 tive as white, nor is the flour of so good a quality. It is beard 

 less. 



Duck Bill, or conical, wheat is another variety, but it is 

 little cultivated. 



Egyptian, many spiked wheat, or "corn of abun- 

 dance," is mostly cultivated in Egypt and Italy; it re- 

 sembles, in its habits, the spring wheat. Its ear is beard- 

 ed, and it sustains great heat and drought. 



Polish wheat is some cultivated in parts of Europe. 



