20 DRY-LAND GRAINS FOR NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. 



For the tlii'ee-year period the hull-less barley produced only a little 

 more than half as much as the best two-rowed variety, and for the 

 two-year period less than half. 



GENERAL DISCUSSION. - 



At each experiment farm the two-rowed varieties of barley have 

 given the best yields. The Hanna barley (G. I. No. 24) has given 

 the highest average yield at Bellefourche and Highmore, but has 

 not been grown at Dickinson. The Hanna, G. I. No. 203, a strain 

 very similar to Hanna, G. I. No. 24, has given the highest yield 

 at the latter place. The Hannchen variety (G. I. No. 531), which 

 has been grown at Highmore for five years and at Dickinson for 

 two years, has given the highest average yields for those periods. 

 The principal disadvantage of the two-rowed varieties is that they 

 do not command as ready a market as the six-rowed varieties. For 

 feeding there is no appreciable difference between the two types. 



The varieties of two-rowed barley recommended for western 

 North and South Dakota are the Hannchen and the Hanna (G. I. 

 Nos. 531 and 24). The Odessa and the Minnesota No. 6 are appar- 

 ently the best of the six-rowed varieties. 



RATE-OF-SEEDING TESTS. 



At Dickinson rate-of-seeding tests have been conducted for 

 three years with durum wheat, two years with oats, and one year 

 with common spring wheat. Tests with durum wheat, winter 

 wheat, and oats were inaugurated at Behefourche in 1909. The 

 results at both experiment farms point to the conclusion that thick 

 seeding up to a certain point produces a greater yield in favorable 

 seasons, but in unfavorable seasons the thinner seeding does best. 

 As much of the work has been done in favorable seasons the presen- 

 tation of the results at this time would probably be misleading. 



An interesting point in connection with the test on winter wheat 

 at Bellefourche is that seeding above 4 pecks per acre has increased 

 the percentage of winterkilling. The thicker seeding reduces the 

 supply of moisture available for each plant. During dry autumns 

 the probable result is that the plants are weakened by the lack of 

 moisture and for that reason are more easih^ killed. 



It is recommended that thin seeding be practiced. Not more 

 than 5 pecks of durum wheat, 4 pecks of common spring wheat, 

 or 3 or 4 pecks of winter wheat should be sown per acre. Barley and 

 oats should not be sown thicker than 6 pecks per acre. Thinner 

 seeding than this is often recommended and is perhaps advisable 

 in most locahties. While greater yields will l)e secured from thick 



rCir. 59] 



