4 BULLETIN 1197, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Love and Craig (26) report the appearance of a wild type of wheat 
in the progeny of a cross between durum and common wheat. The 
segregates of this type were similar in all respects to the typical 
wild wheat of Palestine. This occurrence of the wild form may be 
considered either as evidence that the wild wheat of Palestine is the 
prototype of cultivated emmer or that this wild form has arisen 
through natural crossing between already existing forms. 
Emmer apparently was introduced into the United States by 
German immigrants from southern Russia wiio settled in the Dakotas. 
Carleton (8) states that it u was known to northwestern farmers 
probably as early as 1875 or 1880." More recently several lots of 
emmer, mostly from Russia and Germany, have been introduced and 
distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture. 
Spelt probably is of later origin than emmer. Considerable doubt 
exists as to its cultivation by the Egyptians, Greeks, or Romans. 
It is known, however, to have been grown in Europe and Asia for 
more than 200 years. Spelt has been introduced into the United 
States on numerous occasions, several introductions having been 
made during the nineties. It was grown experimentally in Califor- 
nia as early as 1893. More recently samples of spelt have been 
received by the United States Department of Agriculture from 
Germany. 
Einkorn probably is of more ancient origin than either emmer or 
spelt, and it is mentioned in very early writings. It apparently 
has never been extensively cultivated and is now T grown sparingly on 
poor and stony slopes in the countries of southwestern Europe. 
Several introductions of einkorn from France, Germany, and Turkey 
have been made during the past 20 years. These lots have been 
grown in experiments in this country, mostly in nursery rows, but 
the crop has not become commercially established. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
Emmer is known to be grown in Russia, Germany, Serbia, Aus- 
tria, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Persia, India, and Abyssinia, 
as well as in the United States and Canada. It is generally of greater 
relative importance in regions of low rainfall and unfavorable growing 
conditions. 
Spelt is grown less widely and is of less importance than emmer in 
the countries where it is found. It is known to be grown in Germany, 
France, Switzerland, and Serbia, and to a slight extent in the United 
States. 
Einkorn is grown only sparingly in Europe and Asia and not at all 
in the United States, except experimentally. 
Statistics on emmer and spelt are obtained in the United States 
and Europe only on both crops together. In Russia and the United 
States nearly all of the crop consists of emmer. 
The countries leading in the production of emmer and spelt are 
Russia, Germany, and the United States. In some sections of Rus- 
sia and Germany emmer occupies a larger acreage than wheat. In one 
government of Russia emmer is practically the only cereal grown. 
The acreage of emmer and spelt is decreasing in all countries, as they 
are being replaced by other cereal crops. 
