2U STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



WHEAT BEDS. 



Tliirtv-thrco now varieties were placed in beds in 1!)1S for seloftion 

 in 1919. 



WHEAT CENTGENERS. 



There are one Juindred and three eentgeners. The 1919 nursery repre- 

 sents the third fihal ^t'lieration from crosses made in 191 G. 



WHEAT HEAD SELECTIONS. 



Tliiiiv liead selections were made in 1918 for increase and Icslinu; in 

 191!). 



WHEAT INCREASES. 



Five new wheats are being increased to enable distribution for testing 

 and to allow milling and baking. 



WHEAT CROSSING. 



Twenty-three plats were planted to enable the crossing work now needed 

 in the progress of the wheat breeding work. These crosses were mainh- 

 between our best stiff strawed varieties and the weak strawed western 

 varieties that have proved more winter hardy. 



RATE OF SEEDING WHEAT. 



The Red Rock Wheat was seeded at six different rates. This test in- 

 cludes the checks and edges necessary to a regular variety test. 



DATE OF SEEDING WHEAT. 



The work of the present season is a continuation of the work started 

 by Mr. Down in 1917. The purpose is to discover the date suited to the 

 highest average yield of wheat. The dates begin earlj^ in September and 

 continue into October. 



During the past year the following have been on leave of absence during 

 military service. 



E. E. Down, Corporal, C. 0. H., 58th Inf., A. E. F. overseas service 

 June 30, 1918 to June 30, 1919. 



A. L. Bibbins, Sergeant, M. T. C. 375, A. E. F. overseas service, June 

 30, 1917 to June 30, 1919. 



J. F. Cox, 1st Lieutenant, Air Service A. P., August 25, 1918, to Januarv 

 1st, 1919. 



During the absence of Mr. Down, ]\Ir. Floyd Curtis has capabl}^ as- 

 sisted in the plant breeding work. Mr. C. W. Straight was added to the 

 staff as foreman of the field forces, this department having been carefully 

 reorganized. 



I take pride in reporting the patriotic spirit and unswerving endeavor 

 on the part of the members of this department engaged in Experiment 

 Station work dm-ing the past year. I am particularly grateful to Mr. 

 F. A. Spi-agg for his attention to the management of the section during my 

 absence. 



- Yours trulv, 



J. F. "^COX, 

 Professor of Farm Crops. 

 East Lansing, June 30, 1919. 



