68 
extensively. Increasing familiarity with the wheats, and 
a knowledge of the susceptibility to change in this cereal, 
has demonstrated the wisdom of not attempting to classify 
and place within too restricted lines, varieties possessing 
characteristics, the permanency of which are entirely sub- 
ject to change of climate, soil or treatment. For this rea- 
son the classification presented is of the simplest kind, for 
purposes of convenience, the varieties closely allied being 
grouped together in classes, these latter being separated by 
lines of pronounced differences. By special culture and 
manipulation, man may produce radical changes of form 
and growth in both the vegetable and animal kingdom, and 
this holds true in the cereals as well as in other cases, but 
‘the classification given is intended to apply to varieties that 
have received such treatment as would not tend to throw 
them from the grooves within which their special charact- 
eristics are situated. 
The classification adopted first resolves the varieties under 
the different sub-species of Triticum vulgare. ‘These sub- 
species, when possible, are divided into two classes of beard- 
ed and beardless, and these sub-divided according to the 
color of the panicle. 
In order to accommodate a large number of varieties in 
the field, so that they may present the best advantages for 
observation and handling, it is necessary to plant in rows 
far enough apart for passage between, and with individual 
plants widely enough separated in the row to avoid crowding. 
Grown in this manner, certain physical differences are to 
be noted. The plants are shorter; the panicles and seeds 
usually larger, and longer; the spikelets more widely separ- 
ated, and the leaves of greater size than in ordinary field 
culture. But in view of the fact that the varieties described 
have all been grown on the Station grounds, under conditions 
as nearly equivalent as it was possible to secure, this dif- 
ference is of no special importance, considering that it holds 
relatively the same with all the varieties. 
The source from which the seed of the different varieties 
tested was received is noted after the name, in abbreviation, 
the key to which is as follows, to all of which parties we wish 
to express our thanks for favors received: O. H. Alexander, 
Charlotte, Vt., Alex.; A. E. Blount, Fort Collins, Col., 
Blount; John Bradley, Lyons, N. Y., Brad.; Country Gen- 
tleman, Albany, N. Y., C. G.; R. G. Crist, New Market, 
Ind., Crist ; U. 8. Department of Agriculture, Washington, 
D. C., Dept. Ag’l.; W. L. Eastman, Ovid, N. Y., East.; F. 
M. Etting, Concordville, Pa., Ett.; J. A. Everitt, Watson- 
town, Pa., Ever.; D. M. Ferry, Detroit, Mich., Ferry; J. J. 
H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass., Greg.; H. M. J aques, 

