Southern field crops (exclusive of forage plants) . zigzagstem (or rachis). The spikelets are arranged flatwise to thestem. 36 HOUTHERX FIELD CROPS The shape of the spike differs in certain species and va-rieties of wheat and may be (1) tapering, or (2) nearlyuniform in size, or (3) club-shaped (that is, decidedly largest at the extremeupper end) (Fig. 17). Theshape of the spike or headdepends largely on the sizeto which the spikelets indifferent parts of the spikedevelop. Comprising each spikeletare usually three or moreflowers (Fig. 1-i). Fromthem, when all conditionsare favorable, may de^el
Southern field crops (exclusive of forage plants) . zigzagstem (or rachis). The spikelets are arranged flatwise to thestem. 36 HOUTHERX FIELD CROPS The shape of the spike differs in certain species and va-rieties of wheat and may be (1) tapering, or (2) nearlyuniform in size, or (3) club-shaped (that is, decidedly largest at the extremeupper end) (Fig. 17). Theshape of the spike or headdepends largely on the sizeto which the spikelets indifferent parts of the spikedevelop. Comprising each spikeletare usually three or moreflowers (Fig. 1-i). Fromthem, when all conditionsare favorable, may de^elopthree grains. ]More fre-quently, only two flowersdevelop, antl the spikeletjdelds only two grains,sometimes onlj- one. Acrop with three grainsto the mesh, as somefarmers express it, shouldmake a large yield. In some varieties, beardsproject from the tips ofcertain of the chaff-likeparts which inclose the has not been pro^cd Fig. , Spikelet. .vnd ** bearded ^•arietles ofGr,\in of wheat are any hardier or. WJJEA T 37 anj more productive in the South than beardless varieties(which are also liiiown as smooth or bald wheats)(Fig. 15). On farms where it is some- ^ times desirable to utilize at least a partof the wheat crop for hay, beardlessvarieties are decidedly preferable, andalso probably just as good when thesole aim is the production of grain. 40. The grain. — When wheat isthreshed, the grain is freed from thechaff that has enfolded it. The sameis true of rye. On the other hand,the hull of oats continues to enfoldthe grain after threshing, and in barleythe hull grows fast to the grain. A single grain of wheat is usuallyabout a quarter of an inch long. Adeep furrow or crease extends nearlythe length of the grain on the sideopposite the germ or embryo. Thegreater depth of this furrow, togetherwith the shorter, plumper grain (), readih distinguish a wheat kernelfrom a grain of rye. In color wheat grains vary from alight, almost c
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