36 



HOUTHERX FIELD CROPS 



The shape of the spike differs in certain species and va- 

 rieties of wheat and may be (1) tapering, or (2) nearly 

 uniform in size, or (3) club-shaped (that is, decidedly 



largest at the extreme 

 upper end) (Fig. 17). The 

 shape of the spike or head 

 depends largely on the size 

 to which the spikelets in 

 different parts of the spike 

 develop. 



Comprising each spikelet 

 are usually three or more 

 flowers (Fig. 1-i). From 

 them, when all conditions 

 are favorable, may de^'elop 

 three grains. ]More fre- 

 quently, only two flowers 

 develop, antl the spikelet 

 jdelds only two grains, 

 sometimes onlj- one. A 

 crop with " three grains 

 to the mesh," as some 

 farmers express it, should 

 make a large yield. 



In some varieties, beards 

 project from the tips of 

 certain of the chaff-like 

 parts which inclose the seed. 

 It has not been pro^'cd 



Fig. 14.-.-V Hf...d, Spikelet. .vnd *''*' bearded ^•arietles of 

 Gr,\in of Be.veukd Wiie.vt. wheat are any hardier or 



