107 
BOMBAY GRASSES. 
By Dr, J. C. Laszoa, F.L.S. 
PART VI. 
(Continued from Vol. VIT., p. 390.) 
HORDE. 
Triticum, Linn, 
T. vulgare, Linn. 
Ver.—Gohun, Mar. and Hind. 
Several varieties of this cereal are cultivated in this and in other presidencies, ~ 
These varieties are chiefly distinguished by the colour (white or red), hardness or 
softness, translucency or opacity, the size of the grain, and by their being bearded 
or unbearded. Generally speaking, wheat is grown in those parts of India 
which are situated to the north of the river Tapti in Guzerat, Khandesh and 
Deccan ; but rarely is it cultivated anywhere south of the Deccan. It is said 
that the wheat cultivated on the high table-land of the Deccan and in Maha- 
bleshwar has in a given bulk about + more weight than that raised on the plains. 
Below the Ghats wheat does not grow, as the climate does not suit it. 
For the benefit of those who have no access to the Atlas prepared by 
Mr. E, C. Ozanne, Director, Iand Records and Agriculture, Bombay Presidency, 
I copy here the following extract :— 
“ Wheat.—A cognate species, Triticum speltum or spelt, is commercially and 
agriculturally a variety of wheat. Bombay shows samples of almost every 
variety in considerable areas, except the soft whites, which command high prices 
in the English market. The hard wheats are prized on the Continent for 
macaroni and some confections, Tull the English miller can make free use of 
hard wheats, there is little prospect of increased exports of Bombay wheats to 
England, though Bombay and Karachi will continue to export the soft wheats 
of Sind and the Punjab and North-West Provinces. Experiment has clearly 
proved that it is futile to attempt to grow soft wheats where the climate favours 
the hard varieties, and as futile to substitute red for white or vice versa, for the 
colour is due to soil and not to the action of the cultivator. As wheat is either 
grown alone or with rows of safflower or strips and borderings of linseed, the 
complaint of admixture of mustard and other impurities of this kind cannot 
apply to Bombay. Safflower ripens after wheat, and linseed is easily separated 
in the winnowing. The admixture of earth from the threshing floor can be 
appreciably diminished if the higher price for clean wheat will pay the 
cultivator to exercise more care ; but it cannot be eliminated till the practice of 
pulling the crop is superseded by cutting it with a sickle or by machine. 
