Ixvi Department of Plant-Breeding 



some small, this method of seeding may give a very different stand for 

 different varieties of oats. With this in mind the same weights per 

 acre were planted, and at the same time the seeds were sown in such a 

 way that the same number of kernels were sown for the different varie- 

 ties, thus getting nearly a uniform stand. The experiment has not been 

 carried far enough to draw definite conclusions, but so far it is shedding 

 some light on the question and it indicates that the practice of sowing the 

 same amounts of seed per acre may not always be best to follow. This 

 experiment is to be continued. 



Wheat-breeding experiments. — The wheat-breeding experiments have 

 been continued in much the same manner as outlined in previous reports, 

 except that fewer varieties have been grown, but more selections of 

 individual plants of the more standard varieties have been tested to a 

 greater extent. Several hundred strains from about a dozen standard 

 varieties have been tested in rod rows, in order to get some com- 

 parison of yields between varieties and also between different strains 

 within the varieties. 



From the results of these experiments for the last three years it would 

 seem that we have some selections, when tested under uniform conditions, 

 which give promise of much greater yields than the varieties from which 

 they were selected. These selections were made from several well- 

 known varieties of wheat, such as Rural New Yorker, Prosperity, Seneca 

 Chief, Dawson's Golden Chaff, New Soules, Fultz, and various others. 

 During the course of this selection, strains have been isolated that yield 

 three to five bushels per acre more than the varieties from which they 

 were selected, showing the possibilities of selection. 



For the years 191 1 and 1912 the yield of straw has also been obtained, 

 since the value of straw has become so great that it seems desirable to 

 obtain strains of wheat that will give high yields of both straw and grain. 



During 1912 several commercial varieties have been added to our 

 series,, to test further the new strains that we have under trial. 



During the summer of 1912 several hundred new head selections were 

 made from some of the more common commercial varieties. These 

 have been planted in the field, with the hope of obtaining some desirable 

 strains for multiplication and distribution. Small amounts of seed of 

 our most promising strains were distributed in four different localities 

 this fall. 



A few strains of both wheat and oats have shown that for certain parts 

 of the State they are superior to the commercial varieties, and it seems 

 desirable to multiply these just as rapidly as possible. At present the 

 Department has on hand a considerable quantity of oats which it plans to 

 distribute in 191 3, and the best strains of wheat are being increased so 

 that seed of these may also be distributed in 1913. 



