60 



Nebraska they would fail entirely in certain seasons because of drought 

 or cold, while Turkey, being very hardy, would produce a much larger 

 yield on an average than either of the former, though its absolute 

 yield in a good season might not be so great. So, also, it is found in 

 the Palouse country that there are certain varieties which have absolute 

 yields in that region greater than those of the Little Club or Palouse 

 Blue Stem, but thej^ shatter so badly that the net yield of the latter is 

 greater. 



As regards the field trial experiments upon which is based the 

 larger part of the results given in the table, it must be said that many 

 of those sorts whose behavior indicated that they would not be well 

 adapted for our use should be further tested before adverse judgment 

 is pronounced upon them, especially so if their qualities in other 

 respects are good. Nevertheless, the table as a whole shows pretty 

 accurateh' which are the best varieties for different districts of the 

 country. 



Nothing can be more interesting than the constant observation from 

 year to year of the efforts being made by varieties from every country 

 in the world, struggling with new" conditions of soil and climate, to 

 obtain a footing in a strange land. The gradual elimination of the 

 less-adapted sorts by the severity of winter, drought, etc. , soon shows 

 unmistakably which are the varieties that will be most valuable. Of 

 course it may truthfully be objected that mere hardiness is not of value 

 by itself if other qualities are not also present. But, on the other hand, 

 it is a further matter of interest how different qualities are often so 

 closely associated in the same varieties that if a variety is adapted to 

 a certain district with respect to one quality, it is apt to be so with 

 respect to at least one or two other equally valuable qualities, though, 

 of course, there are serious exceptions. It is also quite worth 3' of note 

 that some apparently insignificant characteristics bear an important 

 relation to the presence of qualities of direct economic importance. 

 As an example of these we may note especially the characteristics of 

 the young plant in its autumn stages in connection with the presence 

 of certain economic qualities. Hardy winter varieties are rather slow 

 starting in the fall, but produce good roots and soon spread out flat on 

 the ground in preparation for the cold and snow of winter. The leaves 

 are narrow and usually dark green or purplish at first, especially 

 near the roots. Spring varieties and most durums and poulards, as 

 well as some of the weaker winter sorts, on the other hand, germinate 

 quickh' and make a large growth in the autumn, but are cut short or 

 entirely killed b}^ the severity of the winter. They produce coarse, 

 light-green leaves, but poor roots. In regions of mild winters durum 

 and poulard wheats make excellent pasturage because of their rapid 

 autumn growth. There is really very little, if any. check to the growth 

 from seeding till harvest in localities well adapted for these varieties. 



