CEREAL GRASSES. 19 



straw ; spikes moderately long and pointed, smooth 

 chaff, and no awns \ grain bright, plump, and transpa- 

 rent. It is a rather delicate sort, continuing long in 

 flower, and so prolonging the period so liable to injury 

 by wheat-fly, but productive when grown in warm, well- 

 ventilated situations. 



T. vulgare, var. barbatum [Common Bearded Wheat — 

 T. (estivum of Linnseus) has a compact ear; the flower- 

 ing glumes with long awns and hollow straw. 



Fern Wheat, or Awny Wheat, has tall straw ; spike 

 spreading, pointed, with long awns ; and long, reddish- 

 brown, heavy grain. It is a very early wheat, can be 

 sown in April, and will ripen sooner than any other 

 kind of spring or winter wheat. It has unfortunately 

 deteriorated of late, through neglect of the means ne- 

 cessary to guard against the disease called " black ball," 

 to which April wheat is especially liable. It is well 

 worthy of cultivation on inferior soils in late districts, 

 but the seeds should be changed every two years. 



T. vulgare, var. turgidum {Grey Wheat — T. turgidum 

 of Linnaeus). Spike more or less hairy; awns long, 

 especially towards the summit; straw full and hard; 

 grains coarse and thick. The Mummy Wheat (T. com- 

 positum) is a variety of this. 



Fingered Egyptian or Mummy Wheat has a broad 

 spike with many offshoots, sometimes six or eight 

 smaller spikes springing from the main one; all awned. 

 Its produce is very large, but the quality of the grain is 

 inferior. The Rev. G. Wilkins, of Wix, states that he 

 has grown, without artificial assistance, four thousand- 

 fold from seed of this sort. 



Cone Wheat, or Rivet Wheat, has tall, strong straw ; 

 long, awned, and well-filled spikes, and coarse grain. 



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