108 



FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



91. Einkorn. Einkorn is the German for one grain, 

 and this type of wheat is so named because, in most the 

 common varieties, it has but one grain per spikelet. 

 Einkorn is a short-strawed, narrow- 

 leafed plant, with a compact, heavily 

 bearded spike. It seldom grows to a 

 height of more than three feet, the straw 

 is stiff and carries the head erect even 

 when ripe, thus giving it a different ap- 

 pearance when growing in the field from 

 that of our common wheat. Einkorn 

 is thought to be one of the more prim- 

 itive types, and more closely related to 

 the original forms than other types. It 

 is grown in a limited way in the poor, 

 stony soils of southern Europe. It has 

 never been grown in the United States 

 except in an experimental way. 



92. Spelt. When seen growing in 

 the field, spelt looks very much like our 

 common wheat ; but if we examine the 

 spikelets, they will be found to be quite 

 different from those of common wheat. 

 The spikelets usually contain two ker- 

 nels, which are tightly held within the 

 glumes. When spelt is threshed, un- 

 like common wheat, the kernels are not 

 separated from the glumes, but are 

 retained in them. Threshing does not even remove the 

 spikelets from the rachis, but a portion of it is broken off 

 and retained by each spikelet. Spelt, therefore, cannot 

 well be used for making flour, but can be fed to live stock 

 without further threshing. It is not grown in the United 



FIG. 35. Einkorn. 



