CHAPTER XXXIX. 



CULTIVATED WHEATS (Genus Tritkum). 



I. Characters of the Genus. — The inflorescences or ' ears ' are 

 spike-like, with two rows of sessile spikelets placed singly at each 

 notch of the rachis. 



The spikelets (Fig. i66) possess from two to five flowers, one 

 or more of the upper ones are always abortive ; usually not more 

 than two or three are fertile and produce ripe fruits. 



The lower spikelets of the ' ear ' are often sterile even in the 

 best selected varieties. 



The empty glumes (Fig. i66, e) are broad, thus 

 ^~~eff^"/^^ differing from rye, and usually have but a short 

 awn or blunt apex; the flowering glumes possess 

 a long or short blunt awn. 



The fruit (caryopsis), which is free from the 

 LJ' glumes, has a deep furrow on the back and a hairy 

 Fig. i66.— Spike- tip ; the colour of the ' grain ' may be white, yellow, 

 Wheat TsTp^y red, brown, or violet. 



fng'^iuni^^T'S- 2. A good Wheat grain should be plump, with a 

 chisofthe''ear.' smooth, thin, wcll-filled skin. For the purposes of 

 the baker it should be somewhat translucent or semi-glassy when 

 cut across : samples containing many translucent grains are 

 known on the market as ' strong wheats.' 



The grains in a sample should also be of uniform colour, size, 

 and shape. 



For sowing the germination capacity should not be less than 

 98 per cent, and the weight of 100 grains not less than 

 4 grams. The grains should have a hairy tip and the embryo at 



