Letters on the Diseases of JPlants. 



disease known as wheat-rust, and are but part of the machinery being 

 created to cope with that disease, though this fact will, probably, for some 

 years yet to come, fail to be fully appreciated. 



Now, as to the naming of samples of wheat. Is it any wonder, when the 

 number of varieties is so great, that even experts shrink from committing 

 themselves as to the name of a wheat, unless they have the best of samples 

 and all the information that is available ? Those who bring or send samples 

 of wheat to be named should, if possible, provide a full-grown ripe stool or 

 plant. In addition, they should give all the information they possess, such 

 as answers to the following questions : — 



1. Is the variety early, mid-season, or late ? 



2. Where did it come from originally — i.e., what is its history ? 



3. What names have you heard applied to it ? 



4. Where was the specimen grown, and on what kind of soil ? 



5. Is the specimen well grown, or have you reason to suppose it to be 



smaller or larger than usual ? 

 The answers to these and similar questions are always of assistance in 

 determining the name of the variety. To some it may seem a trivial matter, 

 this naming of wheats. Stop one moment and consider the maguitude of 

 the operations in wheat, and then think what a difference it makes whether 

 one variety is a trifle better than another for a given locality or purpose. 

 There you have the reason for these numerous inquiries concerning the names 

 of wheat. Each variety has its particular qualities which suit it to particular 

 purposes, and this is the explanation of the large number of varieties, and 

 of the fact that as many as fifty varieties are grown on an extensive scale. 



1. Velvet Pearl. 



Of these numerous varieties of wheat none have this season excited 

 greater interest than those which have been recently imported from the 

 United States. I observe that the variety that has excited the greatest 

 amount of interest and curiosity is that variously 

 known as Velvet Pearl, Eed Califoruian, Califoruian 

 ^ March, &c. Of these various names the one to be 



preferred is Velvet Pearl. This variety may be 

 described as follows : — It is of medium height, and 

 has a rather shiny, yellow, fine, semi-solid straw, 

 possessing all the good qualities in a medium degree. 

 When ripening the straw is yellow, never purple. 

 The sheath of the upper leaf is less than half as 

 long as the distance from the ujjpermost joint to 

 the ear. The ears are red and velvety, and this 

 together with the bright yellow straw, gives the plants 

 a particularly bright and attractive look. The ears 

 are beardless, of medium length, very regular, com- 

 pact, somewhat tapering, square, erect or leaning. 

 Fig. 1.— Ear of Velvet Pearl straight, or slightly curved, acute at the tip, abrupt 

 one-third full size. Grains at the base, where there are two or three sterile 



,0 



^*^®" spikelets. The fertile spikelets are sjDread out wide 



like an open fan, and contain three or four grains. 



The dull and streaky chaff is of medium length, acute and short-awned 



throughout the length of the ear, rather deep, roundbacked, of medium 



