346 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



from the early snow flurries had acenuiTihiteil more or less, the cause 

 of this was attributed to standing water. 



Winter killing, in the sense of which it occurs in regions farther south 

 where the absence or scarcity of snow causes the alternate freezing and 

 tliawing of the ground, was left out of consideration, since here the 

 ground does not freeze. The opinion heretofore advanced that the plants 

 might have been killed b}' a lack of air due to the formation of snow 

 crusts, was less the expression of a belief than that of a popular and 

 as 3et unchallenged notion that a great depth of snow is apt to "smother'' 

 the wheat. In connection with this, the thought suggested itself that 

 this so-called smothering might be due, partly at least, to an intercep- 

 tion of light, and not merely of air. These and the other questions 

 which were deemed necessary for consideration were, first, the proper 

 time of jjlanting in order to determine Avhether plants which had reached 

 a certain stage of development might be injured more or less than others 

 before the beginning of winter; second, the manner of planting, in 

 order to determine whether plants from seed which had been broad- 

 casted and whose roots are probably closer to the surface, might be 

 injured more than seed which had been drilled in; third, a variety test 

 in order to determine Avhether one variety is subject to injury more 

 than another; fourth, a soil test in order to determine whether plants 

 on ground upon which no wheat has heretofore gi'owu. are injured less 

 than others in case the injury should prove to be due to a fungus. In 

 addition to this, it was deemed advisable to use different quantities of 

 seed for some of the plots, it being assumed that if an equal amount 

 of injury should result the heavier seeding might still have a satis- 

 factory stand. 



Eight plots were laid out on old ground upon which wheat had grown 

 once or twice during the preceding five years. This ground has a steep 

 slope towards the south and thereby atfords a better opportunity for 

 the formation of snow crusts. Eleven plots were laid out on new ground 

 Avhich had been cleared early in the season. This ground has an equally 

 steep slope facing the north, hence affords the minimum opportunity for 

 the formation of snow crusts. For the purpose of observing the effect 

 from the interception of light as well as for preventing the formation 

 of snow crusts, a space six feet scpiare was covered ui)on two different 

 plots with heavy tar paper, and this with matched lumber, at the time 

 when the snow was 18 inches deep and before any crusts had formed. 

 The ordinary seeding was done at the rate of eight pecks per acre, the 

 heavy seeding at the rate of ten and the light seeding at the rate of 

 seven, while the drilled seed was used at the rate of six pecks per acre. 

 The first planting was done August 19, the second August 30 and 31, 

 and the third Sei)teniber 15, 10 and 18. Five varieties, as shown in the 

 following table, were used for these experiments, and owing to a lack 

 of available ground only the Dawson variety was used for the entire 

 series. During late fall the stand of all plots ranged from fair to per- 

 fect, the poorest being one of the Dawson plots wliere (piack grass liad 

 been abundant at the time the ground was plowed at the beginning of 

 August. 



From January until the end of March, observations Avere frequently 

 taken for the U. S. Weather Bureau for the i)uriiose of ascertaining the 

 water content of snow at each inch of depth, and this afforded an oppor- 



