CLASSIFICATION OF AMERICAN WHEAT VARIETIES. 75 



midwide ; shoulders midwide, oblique to square ; beaks midwide, obtuse, 0.5 

 mm. long; apical awns several, often incurving on upper third of spike, 3 to 

 20 mm. long ; kernels red, midlong, soft, ovate to oval ; germ small ; crease 

 midwide, middeep ; cheeks rounded ; brush midsized ; midlong. 



History. — The origin of this wheat is undetermined. It is recorded by 

 Carleton (58, p. 44) as a wheat of American origin. It was an important 

 variety in Nebraska in the nineties, but now has practically disappeared from 

 cultivation. 



Distribution. — Grown in Butler County, Nebr. 



BUFFUM NO. 17. 



Description. — Plant winter habit, hardy, late, midtall; stem white, mid- 

 strong ; spike awnless, linear-fusiform, middense to lax, inclined ; glumes 

 glabrous, white to yellowish, long, narrow; shoulders wanting to narrow, 

 oblique; beaks wide, obtuse, 1 mm. long; apical awns several, 3 to 30 mm. 

 long; kernels, red, short to midlong, soft to semihard, ovate; germ small; 

 crease midwide, middeep ; cheeks usually rounded ; brush midsized to large, 

 long. 



This variety has unusual winter hardiness. Its spikes, glumes, and kernels 

 are illustrated in Plate XIV, B. 



History. — It originated from the selection of a single plant having an awn- 

 less spike, found in a field of Turkey wheat by B. C. Buffum, of Worland, 

 "Wyo. Seed of this selection was increased and was distributed commercially 

 by Mr. Buffum under the above name in 1912. In an unpublished article on 

 this wheat, dated May 20, 1915, and presented at the cereal conference, Berke- 

 ley, Calif., in June, 1915, the origin of the variety is given by Mr. Buffum as 

 follows : 8 



The discovery of a beardless mutant was not premeditated. . . . Occa- 

 sional reversions in large fields to the bearded Kharkof type and some of the 

 second-generation variations from crosses with No. 17 definitely prove its origin 

 to be that stated, a mutant of Turkey Red. 



Distribution: — Grown in Sheridan and Washakie Counties, Wyo. 



LEAP (LEAP'S PROLIFIC). 



Description. — Plant winter habit, early, midtall; stem white, midstrong; 

 spike awnless, fusiform, middense to lax, inclined to nodding ; glumes glabrous, 

 yellowish white, midlong, midwide, easily deciduous ; shoulders midwide, ob- 

 lique to square; beaks wide, acute, 0.5 mm. long; apical awns few, 3 to 10 

 mm. long ; kernels red, midlong, soft, ovate ; germ small ; crease midwide to 

 wide, middeep ; cheeks usually angular ; brush small, midlong. Spikes, glumes, 

 and kernels of Leap wheat are shown in Plate XV, A. 



History. — The variety is reported to have originated from a single plant 

 found in a field of Mediterranean by the oldest son of J. S. Leap, of Virginia. 

 From the five heads gathered in 1901, Mr. Leap increased the wheat until 

 1905, when he thrashed 100 bushels grown from 10 bushels of seed. T. W. 

 Wood & Sons, seedsmen, of Richmond, Va., first distributed the variety as 

 Leap's Prolific. General distribution of the wheat started about 1907, and 

 it since has become very popular (137, p. 44). 



* Huffum, B. C M JiufTum'H No. 17. Paper at Cereal Conference, June, 1915. Unpub- 

 Uifaed. 



