LOCALITY AND COMPOSITION 273 



The results are striking and convincing. The origi- 

 nal seed grown in Kansas in 1905 contained 16.22 per 

 cent of protein. The 1906 crop grown from this 

 seed in Kansas contained 19.13 per cent protein; in 

 California, 10.38 percent ; and in Texas, 12.18percent. 

 In 1907 the crop harvested in Kansas from the 1906 

 seed from these widely separated places and of very 

 different composition contained uniformly some- 

 what more than 22 per cent of protein ; harvested in 

 California, somewhat more than 11 per cent; and 

 harvested in Texas, about 18 per cent. In short, 

 the composition of wheat kernels is independent of the 

 composition of the seed or the nature of the soil, but 

 depends primarily upon the prevailing climatic con- 

 ditions, including the water supply. The weight of 

 the wheat per bushel, that is, the average size and 

 weight of the wheat kernel, and also the hardness or 

 flinty character of the kernels, were strongly affected 

 by the varying climatic conditions. It is generally 

 true that dry-farm grain weighs more per bushel than 

 grain grown under humid conditions ; hardness usu- 

 ally accompanies a high protein content and is there- 

 fore characteristic of dry-farm wheat. These notable 

 lessons teach the futility of bringing in new seed 

 from far distant places in the hope that better and 

 larger crops may be secured. The conditions under 

 which growth occurs determine chiefly the nature of 

 the crop. It is a common experience in the West 

 that farmers who do not understand this principle 



