EXrERIMEXT STATION REPORTS. 



295 



METHODS OF PLANT BREEDING EMPLOYED AT THE MICHI- 

 GAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



F. A. SPRAGG. 



The plant breeding work of the ^lichigan Agricultural College has pro- 

 duced several varieties of grain which have become important factors 

 in the State. Of these, the Rosen Rye, Red Rock Wheat, and Worthy 

 Oats are the most widely grown. At least seventj^-five per cent of the rye 

 grown in the State is Rosen, and the Red Rock is without doubt the most 

 widely grown red winter wheat. When it is considered that these varieties 

 were distributed in 1912 and 1913 respectively, the effectiveness of the 

 combination of plant breeding work with a good sj'-stem of distribution 

 is apparent. 



There have been many inquiries in regard to the methods followed, 

 and in order to clear up these cjuestions the following brief description 

 is submitted. 



VARIETY TESTING. 



This work consists in the gathering of promising varieties from any and 

 all sources that are likely to furnish them, viz., farmers, seedsmen, experi- 

 ment stations, and through the U. S. Department of Agriculture from 

 around the world. These lots are given accession numbers as thej' are 

 received. The record includes name of variety, source, date received, 

 amount received and remarks. 



dJM i"'' 



'f^,^>''S-i'. -viv ■^••■^WSfi'M 



Wheat Variety Series- — Red Roeli used as check occurring every fourth phit. Note superior 

 stiffness of straw of Red Rocli (center row). 



The varieties are planted in a duplicate series of long and narrow 

 I)lats side by side, if land permits, or if not, they are planted in sections 

 of the same. On either side- of each section is an edge plat that exists 

 simply to give the real edge of the series as nearly the same conditions as 

 any interior plat. The jnelds of the outside edges are disregarded at 

 harvest time. 



