B. P. I.— 572. 



DRY-LAND GRAINS IN THE GREAT BASIN; 



INTRODUCTION. 



The investigations here reported were begun July 1, 1907, at the 

 Nephi substation, Nephi, Utah. The "Memorandum of understand- 

 ing between the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station and the 



a The Office of Grain Investigations, of this Bureau, has necessarily given particular 

 attention for a number of years to experiments in the dry-land districts because of the 

 introduction of a numljer of grain crops adapted to those districts. It became neces- 

 sary to concentrate a large amount of this work at particular points in order to become 

 familiar with the proper relations of these crops to others and to obtain more informa- 

 tion concerning methods of cultivation suited for such localities, etc. Extensive 

 experiments have, therefore, been inaugurated at the following points: Amarillo and 

 Dalhart, Tex., Akron, Colo., and Bellefourche, S. Dak., operated as independent 

 stations; Highmore, S. Dak., Dickinson and Willi.ston, N. Dak., Judith Basin (Phil- 

 brook P. O.), Mont., Moro, Oreg., and Nephi, Utah, operated in cooperation with the 

 respective state experiment stations. 



In 1907 Mr. W. M. Jardine, Agronomist in the Office of Grain Investigations, was 

 placed in direct charge of these experiments with dry-land cereals, and assistants have 

 been detailed to look after the experiments in each locality. These investigations 

 are conducted in cooperation with other offices of the Bureau and in some instances 

 with state experiment stations. 



The objects of the experiments may be briefly stated as follows: 



(1) To bring together for comparative tests at these experimental farms large num- 

 bers of varieties of the various grain crop^ from all sections of the country and from 

 foreign countries having .similar climatic and soil conditions; 



(2) To develop pure types from the most promising strains and varieties, through 

 individual plant selections, from which seed can be increased for distribution among 

 farmers, and to obtain foundation stocks for further improvement through breeding; 



(3) To develop winter-resistant types in order to further extend the winter-grain 

 area; 



(4) To determine the best cultural methods, such as time, rate, and method of 

 seeding, etc. 



The accompanying paper is the; first of a series on dry-land grains that will be offered 

 for publication as the work progresses. The author of this paper, Mr. F. D. Farrell, 

 has been in immediate charge of the work at Nephi, Utah, since July 1, 1907. 



Acknowledgment is made, with thanks, to Grace Brothers and to Mesfsrs. Peter 

 Peterson, James Jensen, and John Q. Adams for information regarding their farm 

 practices. Mr. Farrell is indebted to Dr. E. D. Ball, director of the Utah station, 

 and to Prof. L. A. Merrill, agronomist in charge of arid farms, Utah station, for their 

 permission to use some hitherto unpublished data secured at Nephi before coopera- 

 tion, which have materially strengthened the discussion of several subjects. Mr. 

 Stephen Boswell, foreman of the Nephi substation, has rendered niucli valuable 

 assistance in the work, as has also Mr. S. R. Boswell.— G. H. Powell, Acting Chief of 



Bureau. 



3 



[Cir. 61] 



