23. Wheat. Throughout the greater part of Europe and America wheat holds the first place among vegetable foods. Now that railways and steamboats have made transportation easy, more and more wheat is being used; for whenever it is equally available it is usually preferred as a breadstuff to any other grain. Although much wheat of fine quality is raised abroad, especially in Russia, France, and Austria-Hungary, our country produces more than any other.

Fig. 16. Map of the world showing, by full black, the probable native home, and by dotted area, the present range in cultivation, of wheat.

Fig. 16.-Map of the world showing, by full black, the probable native home, and by dotted area, the present range in cultivation, of wheat. (Original.)