292 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



A special study has been commenced to determine the relations of 

 the imperfect fungi in the soil and air to deterioration in yields of 

 grain, the results of which should throw some light on soil-fertility 

 problons and questions of crop rotations. 



Pacific coast investigations. — In the investigations on the Pacific 

 coast, under the direction of Mr. H. F. Blanchard, the Chul and 

 Fretes varieties of wheat continue to make a better showing in yield 

 than others commonly sown. Chul wheat yielded at the rate of 87 

 bushels per acre; Fretes, 76 bushels, and the common variety, \yhite 

 Australian, 60 bushels. All varieties made comparatively high yields. 



In the time-of-planting experiments it was found that on well- 

 tilled soil December 15 is a better time for planting than November 

 1 to 15. The December planting gave as high a yield and a better 

 quality of grain. 



Investigations in the Southern States. — A rather thorough 

 preliminary survey of conditions in the Southern States shows not 

 only an increasinaj interest in the cultivation of grains, but also indi- 

 cates the possibility of much improvement in varieties, methods of 

 cultivation, rotations with other crops, the use of fertilizers, etc. 

 Experiments are being undertaken in cooperation with State stations, 

 as tar as funds permit, to determine means of improvement in these 

 conditions. 



Plans for the next fiscal year. — In addition to the continuation 

 of ordinary lines of work the following subjects will be given special 

 attention: More attention than heretofore will be given to the de- 

 termination of the best crops to grow in alternation with cereals 

 and to methods of cultivation. Further experiments will be con- 

 ducted to determine the adaptation of varieties of proso (millet) to 

 different sections and the best methods of handling the crop. In 

 the investigations of durum wheat, kafir, and durra sorghums further 

 tests of the flour from these grains for use as human food will be 

 made. The value of winter rye and buckwheat in localities where 

 these cereals are not now grown to any considerable extent will be 

 determined. Considerable time will be given to the development of 

 hardier winter strains of oats and barley. An important line of 

 experiments will be undertaken with broom corn, and special atten- 

 tion will be given to the matter of the adaptation of kowliang 

 sorirhums to new areas. Rice experiments will be continued in Cali- 

 fornia, and further work will be undertaken in Arkansas and Florida, 

 if funds available permit. 



In cereal diseases further investigation will be made of the methods 

 of preventing smuts of the small grains. The relation of imperfect 

 fungi in the soil to deterioration in the yields of grains will be 

 studied, further studies will be made of the sorghum smuts, and an 

 effort will be made to obtain additional information on the life his- 

 tory of rusts. 



Experiments will be undertaken to determine the varieties of 

 cereals best adapted to the South, the proper rotations of other 

 crops, and the best methods of cultivation. 



CORN INVESTIGATIONS. 



The work of the Office of Corn Investigations has continued under 

 the direction of C. P. Hartley, with Ernest B. Brown, Curtis H. 

 Kyle, L. L. Zook, and J. G. Willier in charge of field investigations 



