EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 283 



The Red Cross and Ciniell weie sown in field 14. The Ked Cross was entirely on 

 the dry. exposed knoll, and resulted in almost complete failure, while the Currell grew 

 so poorly and was so full of weeds that its yield was not computed. In justice to the 

 Buda Pesth variety, it should be stated that the soil on which it grew was not nearly 

 so good as the average of the soil for the other varieties. Had it grown along with 

 the Russian. Dawson, and C4old Coin, in No. 8, its yield would probably have been 

 nearly up to these varieties. In harvesting special care was taken to cut first, and 

 remove from the plot on which the yield was computed, all of the wheat grown on the 

 head lands or near the fence, and to avoid dead furrows and back furrows occurring 

 on the plots. They were generally at the dividing line between the varieties. In 

 general, the varieties stood up well, even through a low piece of ground wliere the 

 wheat usually lodges badly. The International No. 6, Dawson, Gold Coin, and the Wliite 

 Clawson. resemble each other quite closely, as they appear in the field. Tlie Russian 

 and Buda Pesth are bearded varieties with fine straw and lodge readily. Indeed, these 

 varieties in the past two seasons have both leaned so badly to the east at the time of 

 harvesting that it has been necessary to carry the swath in reaping them. They are, 

 however, both good milling varieties, and we hope to secure for thein such yields 

 as will warrant their more thorough introduction. The Currell and Red Cross 

 are beardless, red varieties, but so far their behavior does not warrant their adoption 

 in this locality. 



As to white varieties, we feel perfectly safe in recommending the first three named 

 on the list, as they give excellent yields, stand up A\el]. and are accepted as good 

 varieties by the millers. 



CULTIVATION EXPERIMENT WITH WHEAT. 



On a level and uniformly fertile portion of field No. 8, the following experiment in 

 cultivation w'as completed in 1899, and is being repeated in duplicate this year in 

 field No. 6. Long narrow strips were selected. The field was oat stubble, the 

 previous treatment of which was in line with the rotation practiced on the College 

 farm, although a portion of the field had been plowed for oats in the fall and another 

 part in the spring. In the table below fall plowing was done on the gang plowed 

 plot 1, the first late plowed strip, plot 3, and the early plowed portion, plot 2, while 

 the plots harrowed before plowing and the late plowing not harrowed were plowed 

 for oats in the spring. In the following table is the description of the preparation of 

 the ground and the yield per acre of the wheat crop: 



Yield per 

 acre. bu. 



1 — Gang plowed, 4 inches deep, with a vineyard gang plow, a tool with which 

 two horses can plow four acres per day. This preparation is followed 

 by two harrowings and the grain drill 23.74 



2 — Early ])lowing. The ground was plowed with the ordinary walking plow to 

 the depth of 8 inches, immediately after removing the oat crop. The plow 

 was followed promptly by the roller and the harrow, harrowing done at 

 intervals of seven to ten days until the wheat was sown 23.65 



3 — Late plowing. This soil was ])lowed for oats in the fall, but after the oat 

 crop was removed the ground was allowed to lie undisturbed until the day 

 before the wheat was sown, when it was plowed, rolled and given two 

 harrowings with the spring tooth harrow and one with the Acme 19.00 



4 — This ground was ])lowed for oats in tlie spring. Immediately upon remoxing 

 the oat crop, on the day that the early plowing was done on plot 2, this 

 ground was harrowed twice, with an ordinary spring tooth harrow. The 

 operation being repeated again two weeks later. On the day plot 3 was 

 ])lowed this plot was also ])lowed and prepared the same as plot 3, except 

 that only one harrowing was necessary 22.93 



5 — Plowed for oats in the spring and otherwise treated the same as plot 3. . . . 10.3 



While as a result of this experiment, the yield from llio shallow flowing is (he 

 highest, we are not prepared to say that we advocate plowing oat ground but four 

 inches deep in jirejiaration for the wheat crop. However, if such an experiment as this 

 repeated seA'eral times wouM give similar results, the great saving in time in prejiaring 

 the wheat ground by this metliod would recommend it for general ])ractice. The gang 

 plowing did not jjrepare to a depth of four inches what the ordinary farmer would call 

 an ideal seed bed for wheat. The oat stubble was not completely covered, and the 

 groiind had the appearance of being very dry and dusty and very poorly prepared. 



