8 



in the same variety. For example, a variety may be very susceptible 

 to rust when attacked, but usually be able to escape it by virtue of its 

 quality of early maturity. 



Consideration of such facts linally led to the determination to study 

 thoroughly wheat varieties themselves in all their relations, and not 

 simply wheat diseases. Such a study of course naturally presupposes 

 the investigation of all associated problems, such as drought resistance, 

 early maturity, yielding power, and other matters of great economic 

 interest. The different phases of the subject of wheat culture in its 

 broadest sense are so intimately connected that no one of them can be 

 intelligently studied separate and apart from the others. 



During the iirst season (1895) of the investigations above mentioned 

 about one hundred crosses were attempted with wheat varieties (besides 

 a number with varieties of oats), mainly to determine the facility with 

 which hybrids might be produced by crossing varieties of quite differ- 

 ent groups. One-third of these crosses resulted successfully, unless a 

 few of them ma}' possibly have resulted from accidental pollination. 

 Some of them were readily effected between varieties of common 

 wheat {Triticum vidgare) and the durums {T, duTimi)^ as well as 

 between varieties of each of these groups and the poulards {T. turgi- 

 dum). All the resulting hybrids were planted, but, the weather con- 

 ditions of the following season being unusuallj^ severe, these and many 

 of the other experimental varieties failed to survive. 



This work was continued, but in the meantime careful studies were 

 being made in the several wheat districts with a view of determining 

 the particular needs of each. In some districts greater hardiness of 

 winter sorts is required; in others, varieties with a particularly tena*- 

 cious chaff; in others, stiff er straw; in others, drought resistance, and 

 so on. Varieties bred for North Dakota and Minnesota are of no value 

 for California, and the best varieties for Texas would be useless in 

 Montana. But aside from these considerations a knowledge of the 

 different botanical groups of wheats is necessar}', in order to have at 

 command all the sources from which ma}' be drawn the qualities 

 reciuired for different districts. 



After five vears investigations it can bv no means be assumed that a 

 full knowledge of the conditions of wheat culture and the demands of 

 the country has been attained by this Division. Nevertheless, it is now 

 possible to establish a reasonably complete basis upon which intelli- 

 gent and systematic work may be accomplished — work that either 

 could not be accomplished ut all from a narrower standpoint, or would 

 require much more additional time than has been given to the acquire- 

 ment of this foundation, and could not even then be as thoroughly 

 done. 



