Page:Wheat by Dahlgren, B. E..djvu/11

Rh Persians, and by the Greeks and Romans. It has been identified in remains of the Swiss lake dwellers. It is still grown in mountainous Switzerland, in Russia where it is used for a gruel, in Germany, in Italy and in Spain. It is grown somewhat in the United States. The illustration is of a Black Winter Emmer.

No. 6. Spelt, is usually stated to be the oldest of the cultivated grains and considered to have been the wheat of Egypt, Greece and Rome, which is probably partly erroneous, due to a confusion with Emmer. It was cultivated, however, by the Romans in the later days of the Empire. A wild prototype is not known. It is still grown in some South European localities, particularly in northern Spain.

No. 7. Polish Wheat, sometimes called "Jerusalem rye" or "Giant rye," is a hard wheat of very characteristic appearance due largely to the length of the papery bracts of the individual spikelets. The grain is elongated, resembling rye, and falls readily from the mature head. In spite of its name it is not a native of Poland. It is cultivated in Spain, in Italy, in Turkestan and in Abyssinia. It is also introduced into the United States, but to date is not of much economic importance.

No. 8. Poulard Wheat is also known as English Wheat, and a variety known as Rivet Wheat, is grown in England, but Poulard Wheat belongs of old to the dry eastern and southern Mediterranean region. It has a tendency to "sport," forming branching spikes or heads and hence is variously called Miracle Wheat, Seven-headed Wheat of Egypt, Jerusalem Wheat, etc. The illustration is of a variety known as Alaska, grown in the United States. In spite of the large size of the heads of the Poulard Wheat, the yield is not great and not equal in quality to some of the common wheats. It is of slight economic importance.