BUREAU OF TLANT INDUSTRY. 425 



those kinds of seed which had previously been given attention. Hairy- 

 vetch seed was collected for the first time in 1911. Approximately 

 62 per cent of the 303 samples collected were found to be adulterated 

 or misbmnded. Since the work on adulterated seeds was authorized 

 eight years ago the names of 370 dealers have been published as the 

 result" of having sold or offered for sale adulterated or misbranded 

 seeds. Of those names, 84 have been published for two years, 23 for 

 three years, 4 for four years, and 1 for five years. The relative num- 

 ber of times Avhich the name of the same dealer has been published for 

 selling adulterated or misbranded seeds shows that the trade is mak- 

 ing an eifort to put the business on a better basis. At the same time, 

 farmers have been materially benefited by having information as to 

 what firms are dealing in adulterated or misbranded seeds. 



Investigational work on methods of germination and related sub- 

 jects has been continued. Studies on groups of closely related seeds, 

 to determine the characters by which they can be practically and 

 definitely distinguished, have i3een continued, and results are being 

 published as fast as they are ready. A large number of sets of au- 

 thentic samples of seeds have been prepared and furnished to schools 

 and persons interested in nature-study work. 



The work will be continued practically along the lines which are 

 at present followed, diverting as far as possible the actual testing of 

 seeds from Washington to the cooperative laboratories maintained in 

 the various States. It is planned to increase the number of coopera- 

 tive laboratories by opening one or two new ones in States where 

 little attention is now being given to seed work and where there is a 

 demand for it. 



CEREAL INVESTIGATIONS. 



The w^ork of grain investigation has been conducted on the same 

 lines as formerly, but amplified by the establishment of new cereal 

 field stations. The stations at Aberdeen. Idaho, and at Burns, Oreg., 

 are in cooperation with the States. A field station at Biggs, Cal., 

 has been established through cooperation with a local association of 

 grain growers. The stations have been broken and the land pre- 

 pared for cropping by thorough fallowing. The breeding work in 

 the northern Plains area has been largely expanded by increased 

 cooperative experiments at Dickinson, N. Dak. 



Wheat in\estigations. — Experiments in the improvement and 

 production of wheat have been continued at about 20 field stations, 

 under the supervision of IVfr. INI. A. Carlcton. Breeding experiments 

 to improve the yield and drought resistance of the hard winter wheats 

 have been continued at a large number of dry-land stations. The 

 extension of the?e wheats into the Northern and Western States, out- 

 side of the former winter-wheat area, has progressed steadily 

 through breeding for winter resistance and adaptability. Better 

 spring wheats are being introduced also in the Pacific Northwest, 

 whore soft wheats prodoniiuato. The durum-whoat industry steadily 

 increases, Kubanka being the leading variety. During the year the 

 diiference in price between the durum and common wheats has 

 decroasod. 



Breeding experiments have boon continued at Arlington Farm. 

 Va., whole improved strains and hybrids of the eastern winter wheats 

 are under trial. 



