WHEAT 203 



usual depth of drilling is from two to three inches. To secure ideal con- 

 dition for germination the seed should be placed in the drill furrow on 

 firm, damp soil, which will supply moisture for rapid germination and the 

 development of roots. 



Grain Drills. — For general use a good single-disk drill does very good 

 work. On stony, trashy land it does better work than double-disk or shoe 

 drills. In the absence of trash and on a well-prepared seed-bed, the shoe 

 drill is more readily regulated to a uniform depth of seeding. The press 

 drills are preferred for use in light, droughty soils and drier climates. 



Winter Killing. — Winter killing of wheat is a source of great loss 

 throughout the winter wheat districts of the United States. Winter 

 killing may be due to: (1) alternate freezing and thawing of wet soils, 

 which gradually lifts the plants, exposing and breaking the roots; (2) 

 weak plants, resulting from late sowing, lack of moisture or freezing in a 

 dry, open winter; (3) smothering of the plants under a heavy covering 

 of ice and sleet. A heavy growth of early seeded wheat is more apt to 

 smother than that sown later. When unfavorable weather conditions 

 exist, very little can be done to prevent winter killing. However, pre- 

 ventive measures such as the following are advised: (1) Grow a hardy 

 variety of wheat; (2) drain wet spots in the wheat field; (3) thoroughly 

 prepare the seed-bed ; (4) sow seed early enough to secure strong, vigorous 

 plants; (5) roll wheat that is pulled by freezing and thawing. Rolling 

 early in the spring firms the soil about the roots and benefits the wheat 

 if the pulling has not progressed too far. 



Wheat Districts. — The United States may be divided into five wheat 

 districts according to the color and composition of the grain. These dis- 

 tricts are not sharply defined, but a brief outline of them should give the 

 reader a better idea of the kind of wheat grown, the leading varieties and 

 the milling qualities of the wheat in the different parts of the United States. 



District No. 1. — All wheat cast of the Mississippi River is known as 

 Red Winter, or soft winter wheat. It varies in color from white to red 

 and amber. The quality of this wheat varies from medium in the northern 

 part to poor in the southern part of the district. The leading varieties 

 in the northern portion are Fulcaster, Pool, Dawson's Golden Chaff, 

 Gypsy, Harvest King, Fultz, Rudy and Michigan Amber. In the southern 

 portion the leading varieties are Fulcaster, Pool, Purple Straw, Bluestone 

 and Mediterranean. 



District No. 2. — The hard spring wheat, including Durham, is located 

 in the Dakotas, Minnesota and parts of Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin. 

 The wheat in this district is small and shriveled in kernel, hard and dark 

 in color. The milling quality of hard spring wheat is excellent. The 

 principal varieties are Bluestem, Velvet Chaff, Fife and Durham (Kur- 

 banka and Arnautha). 



District No. 3. — The hard winter district includes Kansas, Nebraska, 

 Oklahoma, Iowa- and Missouri. The wheat in this district is red to amber 



