168 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



A selection from tlie white-keineled variety, Dawson Golden Chaff, 

 and a selection of the red-kerneled variety. Prosperity, have been dis- 

 tributed rather widely in New York State. A somewhat different 

 red-korneled selection which appears superior to either of those men- 

 tioned has reached the stage where it has been decided to distribute 

 it. Such selections are increased through cooperation with careful 

 farmers who give special attention to keeping the variety pure and 

 to producing seed of good quality. 



Durum wheats have continued to outyield the common wheats, 

 including Marquis, in the northern Great Plains area, and the pro- 

 jjortionate acreage of durum wheats has increased. Their superior 

 productiveness is due partly to drought resistance and partly to rust 

 resistance. In 1919 they were more severely rusted than ever before. 

 Of the tAvo leading commercial varieties, I^ubanka has proved to be 

 somewhat more resistant to rust than Arnautka, although the con- 

 trary had been supposed to be true. This caused a large increase in 

 the acreage of Kubanka in 1920. 



Wheat hreeding. — Hybridization experiments started at Moro, 

 Oreg., in 1916 for the purpose of originating an awnless hard red 

 winter wheat of the Turkey type have resulted in valuable material. 

 About 400 awnless selections of Ghirka Winter X Turkey hybrids 

 are being grown in Oregon, Colorado, Kansas, and Montana in or- 

 der to determine the best strain for yield, winter hardiness, and 

 quality. 



An extensive series of hybrids made in 1917 and 1918 between 

 Marquis, the principal hard red spring wheat, and Kanred, the rust- 

 resistant and productive hard red winter wheat, is being grown, with 

 the object of producing a spring wlieat with the milling qualities of 

 Marquis and the rust resistance of Kanred and to originate a beard- 

 less winter wheat superior to Kanred in milling value. 



Crosses Avere made in 1919 betAveen Kota, the rust-resistant hard 

 red spring wheat, and seA'eral leading commercial varieties, in an 

 endeaA'or to increase rust resistance in the latter. 



Kota, which was found in 1918 to be especially resistant to stem 

 rust, was groAvn at 13 stations in the North-Central States in com- 

 parison with commercial varieties of both common and durum Avheat 

 under conditions favorable for rust cleA'elopment. Its rust resistance 

 proA^ed equal to that of the most rust-resistant durum A'arieties. As 

 a result, it is being increased for commercial distribution. 



Certain durum A^arieties, including Acme, Mindum, Monad, and 

 D-5, not Avidely grown commerciall}'', proved to be markedly rust 

 resistant. The cultivation of Acme is being extended rapidly in 

 South Dakota, and that of Mindum, in Minnesota. D-5 is a red- 

 kerneled durum Avheat which, although highly rust resistant, is of com- 

 paratiA'ely low milling A^alue. For this reason its market value is low, 

 and growers haA'e been advised to substitute other rust-resistant A^a- 

 rieties. The Monad variety has been increstsed for that purpose in 

 North Dakota. 



Eesearch in the genetics of Avheat has been continued, with promis- 

 ing results. In cooperatiA-e investigations in Ncav York, much light 

 has been throAvn on the origin of the different groups into Avhich 

 wheat is separated. Among the in-ogeny resulting from combining 

 representatives of different groups has been a plant practically iden- 



