326 THE WHEAT PLANT 



Baden, in which districts it has been cultivated from the earliest times 

 in place of Bread Wheat (T. vulgar e). On a smaller scale T. Spelta is 

 grown in parts of Prussia, Hesse, and Alsace. 



In 1900 over 39,000 hectares (96,330 acres) were grown in Switzerland 

 and about 5000 hectares (12,350 acres) in Austria. 



It is also cultivated in considerable amount in the northern parts of 

 Spain (Asturias) and on small areas in Switzerland, France, and Italy. 



It does not appear to be a farm crop in any other countries of Europe, 

 and I have no authentic record of its occurrence in Africa nor in Persia, 

 India, China, or other parts of Asia. 



Spelt will grow wherever Bread Wheat will thrive ; it yields best on 

 good wheat land, but will succeed on soils which are too dry and light 

 for the commonly cultivated varieties of T. vulgare. 



On land not quite suited to it, rye is sometimes mixed with it in the 

 proportion of A rye to 4 spelt. 



It is one of the hardiest of cereals, being rarely affected by frosts 

 which destroy other wheats, and grows at all elevations, from about 300 

 to 3000 feet above sea-level in Germany and Switzerland. 



Although it is slightly less productive than ordinary wheat and 

 possesses the disadvantage of brittle ears from which the true grain 

 cannot be obtained without special mills, it has advantages which enable 

 it to compete successfully with the more prolific forms of T. vulgare in 

 the districts where its cultivation is established. In respect of these 

 advantages its winter hardiness is of the greatest import. Stoll states that 

 after the winter of 1900-1901 38 per cent of the winter wheat of Germany 

 (about 1,800,000 acres) had to be ploughed up in May 1901 on account 

 of the damage done by frost, whereas less than i per cent of the Dinkel 

 sown (about 700 acres) was destroyed. 



Other points in its favour are its greater resistance to smut, bunt, and 

 rust fungi, and freedom from the attacks of birds. Its straw is stiffer 

 than that of most ordinary wheats and the crop not easily " laid." In 

 addition, it can be harvested sooner than ordinary wheat, and the grain 

 in the ear does not sprout so readily when the reaped crop is left out in 

 wet seasons. 



The majority of the kinds of Dinkel are winter forms, though a few 

 less hardy spring varieties are cultivated ; Emmer (T. dicoccum), however, 

 takes the place of T. Spelta where a spring " Spelt " is grown. 



The former are sown at the end of September or during the first 

 week of October, while the spring kinds are sown in February and March. 



Awned varieties are less frequently cultivated than the beardless 

 forms. Red-chaffed varieties are preferred, as these are hardier than 

 those with white chaff and possess stronger straw. 



The viability of the grain is retained longest when it is enclosed in 



