REPOET OF THE SECEETARY. 65 



PROGRESS IN GRAIN INVESTIGATIONS. 



Winter- WHEAT extension. — For some time efforts have been 

 made by the Department to extend the area of possible cultivation 

 of hard winter wheat by the introduction of varieties hardier than 

 those now grown. The Kharkov variety, which so far has been 

 found to be the best, has given unusually good results this season. 

 The total annual production of this wheat is now between 15 and 20 

 million bushels. 



Durum wheat. — In the last report the annual production of 

 durum wheat was stated to be nearly 50 million bushels, but it is no 

 longer possible to give even approximate statements of the produc- 

 tion. Durum-wheat flour is commonly used in a number of eastern 

 cities, particularly Baltimore, Washington, and Richmond, a single 

 firm having disposed of five carloads in the last-named city in three 

 months. For the first time a prominent milling company is adver- 

 tising the flour on its own merits, a matter which has been urged by 

 this Department for some time. 



Pacific coast investigations. — Following the demonstration of 

 the adaptation of Chul and Fretes wheats to California by this Depart- 

 ment, seed of pure strains is being increased as rapidly as possible 

 for distribution. Already the yields obtained show the superiority 

 of these varieties. 



Influence of environment on the composition of grain. — 

 Experiments conducted for a considerable length of time seem to 

 show that different kinds of soil have very little influence on the 

 quality or yield of grain, but that changes of climate have consider- 

 able effect. 



Crops in rotation with cereals. — Rotation experiments have 

 been conducted in a number of places to determine what crops are 

 best for growing in alternation with cereals in order to obtain the best 

 results with the latter. "Where legumes were employed in these 

 rotations the results have confirmed those of other experiments in 

 showing the importance of such crops preceding wheat. In Cali- 

 fornia the value of green rye turned under in preparation for wheat 

 seeding was also shown. Both rye alone and a mixture of rye and 

 vetch plowed under green gave a very much greater yield of wheat 

 than that obtained on summer fallow, and a still greater increase 

 over that obtained where wheat followed wheat. 



Time and rate of seeding grains. — From several years' investi- 

 gation of the best time and rate for seeding grains the chief conclusion 

 of general interest is that a smaller quantity of seed may be employed 

 in the drier districts than in humid areas. The proper quantity of 

 wheat, for example, to be sown to the acre in semiarid districts 

 73477°— AGE 1910 n 



