B. P. I.— 677. 



WINTER WHEAT IN WESTERN SOUTH 



DAKOTA. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The value of winter wheat as a dry-land crop in western South 

 Dakota has been the subject of much discussion during the past few 

 years. The production of \dnter wheat in this area has not reached 

 proportions of commercial importance. Wyoming and Montana, 

 however, produced during the past season more than 7,250,000 

 bushels, and as the soil and climate of western South Dakota are 

 very similar to those of the States mentioned there is good reason 

 to beUeve that profitable returns may be obtained from the crop in 

 this region. 



The advantages in favor of winter wheat, where it can be success- 

 fully grown, are better distribution of labor by fall seeding and early 

 haiwest; early maturity, and therefore less danger from hail, hot 

 winds, disease, etc.; greater drought resistance; and larger yields. 

 Its importance as a dry-land crop is due largely to its early maturity 

 and to its ability to produce a fair yield even in seasons of severe 

 drought. 



Winter wheat has been grown at several points in western South 

 Dakota, in some instances for a number of years. While not uni- 

 formly successful, the crop promises good results when properly 

 handled. The aim of this paper is to outline the best methods of 

 growing tliis grain as shown by observation and by experiments that 

 have been conducted. So Uttle has been done, however, that it is 

 not possible to say that any method is certainly the best. Yet it is 

 thought that a summary of results obtained wiU be of value both in 

 pointing out some of the mistakes most commonly made and in 

 indicating the methods most likely to be successful. 



DIFFICULTIES LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED. 



THE WINTERKILLING OF WHEAT. 



Winterkilling is the injury most commonly feared in gromng winter 

 wheat and is the principal limiting factor in the northward extension 

 of the winter-wheat belt. It is due to extreme cold, to exposure 



[Cir. 79.] 3 



