314 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Plans for fuittre work on grain crops. — The unfinished lines of 

 investigation -which liavc been described will be carried forward dur- 

 ing the ensuing year. The work in the production of pure types of 

 dili'erent cereals will be continued and an effort will be made 

 especially to increase the seed of those already established to such 

 an extent as to be of use in general cultivation. 



The hardiest winter wheats will be given still more severe tests to 

 determine, if possible, the limit of their endurance in resistance to 

 drought and cold. In the work Avith durum wheat an attempt will 

 be made to obtain still more definite results on the adaptation of local 

 varieties, and special attention will be given to the encouragement of 

 the use of durum-wheat flour by baking tests and otherwise. 



Efforts will be made to make more available to farmers the results 

 of experiments with grains on the dry-land experiment farms. Such 

 experiments as seem necessary will be added to obtain as much 

 further knowledge as possible concerning the effect of legumes, 

 potatoes, and other cultivated crops upon the yield of cereals when 

 grown in alternation with them. Experiments to determine the 

 proper time of seeding in the vicinity of the different experiment 

 farms will be emphasized. 



In the work with sorghums special attention will be given to the 

 trials of kowliang varieties, determinations of the commercial uses 

 of sorghums, and the improvement of milo and kafir with reference 

 to drought resistance and the shortening of their growing period. 

 In rice investigations it is expected to obtain much more information 

 on the adaptation of varieties, particularly in new districts such as 

 California and Arkansas. Methods of rice cultivation and the life 

 history of rice blast will also be investigated. Experiments for the 

 development of hardy winter varieties of oats and barleys will be 

 emphasized, as well as for promoting greater yield and quicker ma- 

 turity. It is expected also to obtain further information as to the 

 hardiness and uses of Black Winter emmer and the proso millets. 



CORN INVESTIGATIONS. 



The general corn investigations of the Bureau have continued in 

 ■charge of Mr. C. P. Hartle^^ Physiologist, assisted by Messrs. Curtis 

 H. Kyle, Ernest B. Brown, and L. L. Zook. 



Acclimatization of hioit-yielding strains. — The cross-bred 

 strains, the foreign introductions, and the pure-bred strains of corn 

 that have been undergoing acclimatization and selection for higher 

 yields by this office for periods of six to nine j'ears continue to 

 respond to improvement in adaptation, yield, and quality. U. S. 

 Selection 77 has been undergoing improvement by the Department 

 in cooperation with a local farmer at Piketon, Ohio, since 1902. In 

 1909 the average yield of 740 acres of this corn was 77 bushels (70 

 pounds dry ears per bushel) per acre, some fields averaging 100 

 bushels to the acre. This corn is adapted to river-bottom lands of 

 southern Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. U. S. Hybrid 120, produced 

 in 1902 by crossing Hickory King and Boone County White, is un- 

 dergoing improvement at Round Hill, Va. It is a large-kerneled, 

 white dent corn, adapted to upland conditions of northern Virginia. 

 U. S. Selection 133 is a ninety-day yellow dent corn that has given 



