EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



487 



Buckwheat. The season was very favorable for this crop and the grain ripened 

 •well. 



Rye Biicktvheat which gave the largest yield, appears to be a very prolific 

 variety. The kernels are smaller and with edges nearly smooth. It is probably 

 less desirable for milling purposes, but seems better adapted to poultry feed. 

 The Japaneae was raised from seed which ripened here during the preceding 

 season and the seed from the Michigan Experiment Station appears to be the 

 same variety. Owing to frequent handling, a considerable amount of grain was 

 lost by shelling out, and judging from the appearance of the ground there was 

 twice as much lost from the Rye Buckwheat variety as from the other two. The 

 plots were ^/L-xG rods in size and the results were as follows: 



Lentils. A description of this valuable legume is given on page 14 of Special 

 Bulletin No. 20. The variety tested during the past season is the Bohemian Blue, 

 the grain being small to medium size, and the color very dark blue, marbled with 

 grey. The V^xG rod plot was planted May 11, and the plants started in blossom 

 July 7. Much of the grain and foliage was lost by harvesting too late on Sep- 

 tember 16. The plot yielded 16% lbs. of grain and 63 lbs. of straw, being equal 

 to 880 lbs. of grain and 3,360 lbs. of straw per acre. 



Flax. A small plot i/^x2% rods was planted May 12 with seed previously rip- 

 ened here. The plot was shaded on the west side by the standing timber and 

 on the south side by several rows of sunflowers. The plants were thus slow in 

 ripening seed, blossoming July 13 and being harvested September 16. The yield 

 •of seed was 61/2 lbs., or at the rate of 14 6-7 bushels per acre. 



Hemp. Since 1901 when the plants made a very fine growth, an attempt has 

 been made each year to grow a larger plot in order to determine the comparative 

 yield of seed per acre, as well as the adaptability of the crop under the different 

 conditions of temperature and moisture of several successive seasons. Seed 

 obtained from several seed houses has invariably proved worthless, the least poor 

 during the past season having produced 16 scrubby plants upon a plot 1x4 rods. 

 "Whether the seed sold by grocery stores for canary bird seed, and at less than 

 half price, is very much poorer, has not been ascertained. 



Field Peas. The varieties heretofore tested, continue to make the same rank 

 growth of vines as during previous seasons. Three new varieties were tested 

 with the hope of finding one which would grow vines of reasonable length. These 

 were: Yictoria, from seed kindly furnished by Judge L. C. Holden of Sault Ste. 

 Marie. A very large, white pea of showy appearance and with stout vines which 

 owing to their average length of 9^2 feet were unable to hold up the large heavy 

 pods. Vines with large and abundant foliage of medium dark green color. The 

 stand was deficient, and scarcely 60 per cent of it perfect, a fact being due to 

 much of the seed having been left uncovered at planting time. The same applies 

 more or less to all other large^seeds, the attempt to cover them successfully with 

 a harrow having thus far been a failure. Canadian Blue, peas medium to large 

 size and of a greenish dark blue color. Vines medium heavy with small but 

 abundant dark green foliage, and averaging 9 feet in length. French June. 

 The most desirable of any variety thus far tested. Peas of even, small size, 

 globular and cream colored. Vines slender but upright, and sufficiently stout 

 to hold up the pods. Foliage ample and of a light green color. The vines averaged 

 5 feet in length and ripened to the tips, thus rendering the curing an easy and 

 rapid task. One of its good features is its early ripening habit. For sowing with 

 •oats, this variety is well adapted for planting with Early Champion. Observa- 

 tions taken August 5, showed that the two crops, if mixed, would have been ready 



