138 



Table I shows the yield of grain of each variety each 

 year that it was tested; also the average yield of grain 

 of each variety tested four years or more. Of those 

 tested four years or more, the yield ranged from 13.0 

 bushels to 17.8 bushels per acre. 



The yield of all varieties was low in 1899, 1903, 1907, 

 1912 — four lean years out of the 16 years of experi- 

 mentation. A study of other crops, like cotton and 

 corn, shows that they suffer lean years in about the 

 same proportions. So the wheat grower should not 

 expect a good crop each year. 



To make a fair comparison between two varieties 

 or a comparison of averages of varieties, the varieties 

 should be grown the same year, on the same kind of 

 soil, and receive the same treatment. By observing 

 Table I, it is noted that some varieties were not con- 

 tinuous; therefore, their averages should be compared 

 with those of varieties that were continuous. 



Table II shows a comparison with Fulcaster of all 

 varieties planted four or more years. The yield of 

 Fulcaster each year is taken as 100 per cent, and the 

 yield of each other variety is compared with it. 



In the column of averages Blue Stem or Purple Straw 

 (Alabama Strain) ranked first. The commercial Blue 

 Stem or Purple Straw variety closely resembles it, ex- 

 cept in earliness, and a comparison of yields shows 

 that in only 3 years of the 13 that they were tested to- 

 gether did the commercial Blue Stem surpass the Ala- 

 bama Strain in yield. The Alabama Blue Stem variety 

 has been grown continuously in this section for a quar- 

 ter of a century or more, and has become well adapted 

 to the locality. Other varieties that rank closely to the 

 Alabama Blue Stem are Red Wonder, Stoner or Mira- 

 cle, Fultz Mediterranean and Golden Chaff. 



Beardless and Bearded Types 



The varieties of wheat tested may be divided into 

 two great classes — beardless and bearded. The follow- 

 ing belong to the beardless class: Blue Stem or Purple 

 Straw (both Commercial and Alabama Strains), Cur- 

 rell, Fultz, Golden Chaff, Leap, Red May, Klondyke, 

 Velvet Chaff, Leap No. 4823; and the following to the 

 bearded class: Acme, Fulcaster, Deitz Mediterranean,, 

 Alaska, Red Wonder, Lancaster and Stoner. 



