342 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Kherson stands next and will prove to be a valuable variety. The 

 straw is still shorter, but the spreading panicles are abundantly sup- 

 plied with small berries which are pale yellow in color and have a thin 

 hull. The seed was badly mixed with other varieties, and in order to 

 obtain purer seed for further propagation, the plot was gone over sev- 

 eral times and the plants of foreign varieties destroyed. The tramping 

 of the plot thus reduced its yield. The somewhat lower ground of 

 the Swedish and University plots gave clover a decided advantage, 

 and the poor yields of the plots was largely due to the aggi-essiveness of 

 the clover plants. The yields of the varieties are shown in the follow- 

 ing table. All plots were 1x8 rods. 



Varieties, 



Early Champion 



Kherson .N 



Oolden lUist Proof 



Red Rustproof 



Imp. Prize Cluster 



Duppauer 



European Hulless 



Swedish or Wisconsin No. 4- 



.American Banner 



Black Beauty 



University No. 6. 



Straw- 

 lbs. 



1,980 

 1,680 

 2.. 380 

 l,9in 

 2,900 



2,3f)0 

 3,600 

 2.880 

 2,0.30 

 2,240 

 2,360 



Cereals in 1906. — The low yield of the varieties was due to the fact 

 that the ground had been mostly plowed during spring and that April 

 and Maj were the two dryest months since work was first begun in 

 1000. If a roller which was subsequently secured, had arrived in time, 

 it is more than probable that the packing of the soil would have largely 

 counteracted the bad effects from late i)lowing and from the dry 

 weather. 



Oats. — Rust develo]>ed moslly during the wet weather in Augusj, hence 

 the damage as during ])re^■i<)us seasons!, Avas jn-incipally confined to flie 

 late varieties. The early varieties were treated for smut with formalin 

 kindly donated by the manufacturer, the Pioneer Furnace Co., of ^lar- 

 (piette. The treatment had the desired effect, for upon the whole num- 

 ber of plots, only three diseased stalks could be found during the entire 

 season. 



Seed of what will no doubt prove to be some very valuable varieties 

 for this region, was kindly donated by Prof. John S. Cole, of the South 

 Dakota Experiment Station. Tender more favorable conditions and 

 when planted earlier. Burt and Sixty Day, two white varieties, will no 

 doubt measure up with the early varieties thus far introduced. North 

 Finnish, a black oat, will probably prove to be the most valuable of 

 these, judging at least from its satisfactory yield under adverse condi- 

 tions and from the fact that the straw was bright and stout and the 

 growth rank and healthy. The seed contained a large percentage of 

 hybridized kernels, and tlies<' were soiled (»ul ;iiid |)lanted separate as 



