B. E.

“ Unless the cultivation of wheat was undertaken independently in the various regions, its place of origin must be considered to coincide approximately with the location of a probable early center of dispersion of the human race in the old world. ”

“ While the older method of milling prevailed, pulverizing the entire wheat for flour, the softer wheats were preferred and wheat growing was largely restricted to regions producing them. With the introduction into the flour mills of the steel roller process, by which the contents of the kernel are simply squeezed out of the husk, it was found that a most desirable, better keeping flour could be produced from hard, northern and western wheats. Wheat growing in the United States thereby received a great impetus and the producing area was vastly expanded over the great plains. ”

“ Durum Wheat is an extremely hard, flinty wheat from Russia, brought to the United States by early immigrants. It is economically important, as are those which follow. The flour produced from it is higher in gluten and conversely lower in starch content than other wheats and is used in the manufacture of semolina and macaroni and other pastes. For bread making it is sometimes mixed with flour of the more starchy, softer wheats. Durum Wheat, also, is said to have been found in old Egyptian remains. It is grown in India, in Algeria, and is the principal wheat crop of Spain. ”

“ Starting in the spring with a partly developed root system they make a vigorous, early growth. They ordinarily show a higher yield, are more likely to escape rust, and mature their grain earlier than the spring sown wheats. The spring wheats are more tender varieties that complete their growth in one season and in spite of a later start mature their grains. In northern latitudes only spring wheats can be grown. In mild climates both spring and winter wheats may be grown from fall sowing. ”

“ It is resistant to rust and is especially adapted to somewhat arid land, being also resistant to drought. On this continent Durum is grown successfully in South and Central America, and in the United States in the Great Plains Area, particularly towards its Rocky Mountain border. ”

“ Turkey Wheat, originally from South Russia, the Crimea, etc., is now the leading hard winter wheat of the United States and endures well the low winter temperature of the Northwestern States, except where the climate is very severe, as in North Dakota. ”

“ Wheats which in their proper latitudes withstand the low temperature of winter without injury are known as winter wheats. True winter wheats are "winter annuals" only and will not ripen seed when sown in the spring. They are sown in the fall, and germinate and form roots before the onset of cold weather. ”

“ The wheat production of Canada and of Argentina has been steadily rising. Northern India, China, and Australia produce wheat in considerable quantities. In order of normal per capita consumption of wheat, France came first, then New Zealand, Australia, United States, Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, Germany and Canada. ”

“ Hard and soft wheats differ in the composition of the grain. The soft wheats are richer in starch and are likely to have large grains, while the hard, with smaller grains, are relatively richer in gluten. ”

“ Its presence in several varieties even in Europe in pre-historic times and its ancient wide distribution would seem to be evidence that the beginning of its cultivation belongs to the earliest history of mankind. ”

“ In Europe and in Asia it has been grown for thousands of years. In Europe it has been discovered in various places in remains of the later Stone Age. It has been grown about the eastern end of the Mediterranean and in Mesopotamia for at least five or six thousand years. ”

“ This is generally placed in central Asia, perhaps somewhat to the westward, about the region of eastern Turkestan where climatic conditions in the time of primitive man are likely to have been more favorable than they are now. ”