THE FARM 325 



various fruits and cereals are estimated at hundreds of millions of 

 dollars. 



Oranges, lemons, and other like fruits, have rinds that protect them 

 from the bacteria which cause decay. But the skin on apples is thin 

 and easily broken. In spite of a wax-like covering that in some apples 

 is quite noticeable, not only does water escape through the skin so that 

 the apple shrivels, but bacteria penetrate it and cause rot. When 

 apples have been carefully selected and handled, wrapping them 

 separately in paper lessens the likelihood of their decay. 



WHEAT AND WHEAT GROWING 



So common has been the use of wheat flour in the United 

 States that it is difficult to readjust the manner of living 

 when compelled to do without it either wholly or in part. 

 So widely distributed geographically are the wheat-growing 

 regions of the earth, and such is the range of climatic con- 

 ditions under which different varieties of wheat may be 

 grown profitably, that a world-wide crop failure is unlikely. 

 But it is quite possible under normal conditions that the 

 world's demand for wheat may increase more -rapidly than 

 any increase in its production, resulting in a rise in its price, 

 and of the flour made from it, until the cost of wheat bread 

 is prohibitive for many. 



Better methods of wheat culture may increase the average 

 yield per acre materially through better tillage, and more 

 careful selection of seed. It is possible that large areas of 

 land now considered unfit for wheat growing, especially in 

 the semi-arid regions, may be brought into use with newly 

 propagated varieties of wheat suited to these unusual 

 climatic conditions. It is possible that scientific farming 

 may secure increased fertility of soils in spite of repeated 

 croppings with wheat. Any gains of this nature are, how- 

 ever, likely to be slow. They can only serve to delay the 

 coming of the time when wheat bread with butter or with 



