618 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fails to develop in such a manner as to fertilize the o\Tile. This is an im- 

 portant matter as production depends upon the fertilization of the ovules. 

 IMany of the common ryes fail to fertilize more than half of the o\'ules, making 

 an irregular poorly filled head. It is altogether different in wheat where 

 the pollen is shattered inside the flowers and there is, therefore, an abund- 

 ance for self-fertilization. 



^lichigan rye varieties may be classified as common, Rosen, and the crosses 

 between these two types. The ryes that were commonly groT\ii before the 

 Rosen rye was introduced are referred to as the common varieties. Figure 

 2 shows the Rosen in the center, the common at the left and a frequent t^^e 

 of crossed rye at the right. Here one may see the large grains of the Rosen 

 combined ■vsith the poor filling of the common rye. 



At first the Rosen rye frequently yielded t^^•ice as much as the common. As 

 the rjTS were commonly planted side by side, they were inter-crossed, yield- 

 ing grade ryes, ranging all the way from nearly pure Rosen to nearly pure 

 common. Gradually the poorest producing seed has been eliminated, and 

 now it is likely that about 85 per cent of the rye groAMi in ^Michigan is at 

 least grade Rosen. 



TRUENESS TO TYPE. 



Because of the fact that rye is open fertile, the types and varieties are 

 not so well distinguished as they are in wheat. In the case of wheat marked 

 differences in the shape of the head, in the compactness of the flowers on 

 the head, in the manner in which the kernels are covered by the chaff, in 

 the color of the grain, and the type or length of the beards, would indicate 

 another varietj'. Rye varieties are mixed in regard to most of these points 

 and the variety depends more upon the proportion or per cent of these types 

 to be found in the field than it does upon any one definite character. The 

 notches on the rachis may be quite distant, causing the pairs of flowers to 

 be scattered in the head. This usually produces a long slender head that, 

 if fairly well filled, is ciuite attractive. Other heads may have such short 

 joints on the rachis as to crowd the pairs of flowers from an upright to an in- 

 clined position. This results in a compact, wade, flat head. The original 

 Rosen rye was mostly of the latter type. 



VARIETIES. 



The varieties commonly grown in ^Michigan ten 3'ears ago were consid- 

 erably variable in regard to most of these points, but they produced small 

 kernels, on a poorh' fertilized head, usually groAAii on a tall slender straw. 

 If the land was fairly fertile the straw may be expected at maturit}' to be 

 taller than the average man. The color of the grain varied from j-ellow and 

 orange, to brown and black. The proportion of green kernels was low. 



On the other hand the Rosen rye has large kernels on a head that is gen- 

 erally well filled. At least 70 per cent of the heads must have less than 10 

 per cent of missing kernels if the field is to be passed as inspected Rosen rye. 

 The Rosen straw is much shorter and stiffer than in the case of the common 

 varieties. It is only the exceptional field that will produce straw as tall as 

 the average man. The heads in a typical Rosen rye field must be nearly of 

 the same height. Tall plants jetting up here and there (giving the surface 

 of the field a ragged appearance) are one of the first indications that the field 

 is mixed with common rye. The color of the grain in mature Rosen is mostlj^ 

 a bluish green, and should not contain dark brown or smutty colored grains. 



