G64 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



BARLEY IMPROVEMENT. 



Circular No. 32. 



By F. a. SrRAGG. 



SUMMARY. 



The search for better barleys has been in progress at the Michigan 

 Experiment Station for at least ten years, and so far as can be seen at 

 present, the success of this investigation lies in the production of two 

 winter barleys that are hardy enough to stand Michigan winters when 

 they are planted about September 1st or before, but are uncertain when 

 planted after the l.jtli of Se])tember. All the tests that have so far been 

 nuide in the TJp]^er Peninsula have been planted late and like most of 

 such plantings in the Lower Peninsula liave been failures. Up to the 

 l)resent time, winter barley has not been a commercial success north of 

 the Ohio river. Experience sliows that the winter barley must cover tlie 

 ground with a vigorous growth by the time that winter sets in if it is 

 to winter well. The top?; freeze down completely, usually below the 

 winter lodging-place of the Hessian fly, thus killing the fly and these 

 frozen tops protect the crowns of the plants. 



The outline map. Figure 1, exhibits the location of tests of winter 

 barley. Small dots represent those that were planted in 1914 but from 

 which no reports have been received. A circle around the dot marks a 

 report. The figures give yields when known. Four of these are GO 

 bushels and above, while a half dozen others exceed 50 bushels per acre. 

 The 1915 yield from Michigan Winter barley at the College was 59.3 

 bushels per acre, notwithstanding the fact that these plants were loaded 

 with Hessian fly the fall before. This was a seven-acre piece planted 

 September 4, 1914. A plain circle indicates a 1915 planting, the condi- 

 tion of which is unknown (spring 1916). When the circle has been filled 

 to make a large dot the reported stand is good to excellent. A line cut- 

 ting the circle signifies winter killing. A partially filled circle marks 

 a report between these two extremes. Almost all of these tests were 

 planted late, falls 1914-1915. 



The prominent fact in nearly all of these reports is that the farmer is 

 convinced that late planting (i. e., after September 15th) is uncertain 

 and usually means failure. On this point, Mr. George G. Wheaton of 

 Marshall reports: "A twenty-acre field was planted to barley about 

 September 28th (1915). Two-thirds of the plants did not survive the 

 winter. They were small last fall and had no tops to protect the roots. 

 Another field was planted on August 30th and is a very nice A No. 1 

 stand." 



