DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 157 



to a tender variety of Asiatic wheat. This variety was presented to tlie college 

 in 1875 and sown that year, yielding only 7J bushels per acre, while other va- 

 rieties yielded 15 to 17| bushels per acre on the same held, and witli the same 

 conditions surrounding them. It was sown again in 187G, and in 1877, yield- 

 ing 17 bushels per acre, while Arnold's Gold Medal by its side, yielded 35 

 bushels. 



It was determined that we should try it once more, and see if by continued 

 sowing it would not become more hardy, and thus become a valuable acquisi- 

 tion to our list of white wheats. It was accordingly sown as stated above. 



The experimental varieties were sown at the south side of the field, and were 

 bounded on two sides by this Asiatic wheat. The plats were sown with four 

 rows or drills 8 inches apart and 30 feet long, a path four feet in width run- 

 ning around each plat. 



These plats were sown in order to observe the character and growing quali- 

 ties of the varieties, as well as to furnish our students with an opportunity to 

 see and study the different wheats during the period of growth ; and to their 

 credit be it said, that more than three-fourths of the students have visited the 

 plats from the time the heads began to appear, many coming every three or 

 four days to observe the difference in growth, — a few tried hybridizing some of 

 the varieties. Several have asked for sample heads from the plats for a col- 

 lection of wheats to preserve. 



That these plats Avere admirably situated to make comparisons will be shown 

 by the havoc the Hessian fly made in the Asiatic wheat, which I have men- 

 tioned as lying beside the road and bounding these plats on two sides. The 

 soil was rather light loam underlaid by a stratum of hard blue clay, the loamy 

 or sandy soil being the best place for the insect to work. 



Oct. 1. — Asiatic wheat up and looking as well as any wheat upon the farm. 



Oct. 26. — The Hessian fly has been at work so that in many places over 50 

 per cent of the wheat has been destroyed. 



The warm rains, however, may help matters some, as new tillers or shoots 

 are sprouting from those plants not eaten off below the crown. 



Nov. 25. — The wheat has improved in appearance wonderfully since the last 

 observation, but the new shoots are not strong. 



Plenty of larva in the pupa or flax-seed state in almost every stool. 



April 5. — Field much improved in appearance ; wheat growing well. 



Many places where there is not a wheat plant or stool in 18 inches distance 

 in the drill rows. 



May 30. — Saw several heads of smut. 



June 4. — The field showing smut in large quantities, — the larvse of Hessian 

 flv numerous. 



June 31. — Out of 38 consecutive stalks at one examination found larva?, 

 these being from a single stool of wheat. Larva) in all heads that showed 

 smut, as far as observed, and in some others, — fifteen larvae found in a single 

 stalk and 103 in a single stool of wheat. 



July 10. — Harvested, and more than 50 per cent of what was growing in the 

 spring, cut down by the Hessian fly. The field is scarcely one-fourth a crop. 



You will thus see that the plats were side by side, with a field with over 

 three-fourths of the crop destroyed, and in no case were the plats more than 40 

 feet from the poor field of wheat. 



The Gold Medal wheat was injured by about 25 per cent in the fall, — the 

 Treadwell by about 35 per cent, and the Olawson not at all. 



Part of the Gold Medal and Treadwell were sown on the clay hill west and 



