334 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



SPRING WHEAT. 



Data was taken in 1919 on fifteen plats of spring wheat representing ten 

 different strains or varieties. Because of the exceptionally unfavorable 

 season none of the varieties developed into wheat that would make good 

 flour. Fifty-one pounds being the highest test weight per bushel obtained, 

 although in bushels per acre some of the strains did very well, producing as 

 high as twenty-two bushels. Because of the dry weather during July and 

 a severe attack of rust, the wheat was of a very low quality. This condition 

 of badly shriveled kernels in 1919, was true in general over that section of 

 the Upper Peninsula in which the Experiment Station lies. A notable in- 

 stance, however, is the fact that strains of Marquis gave better results than 

 any other variety. 



The work on spring wheat in 1920 was confined to the Marquis variety, 

 because of its outstanding superiority over other hard spring wheat varieties. 

 The influence of time of planting, was the subject for investigation in 1920. 

 The experiment covered a range of planting dates from April 20th to June 

 7th by seven day periods. The black stem rust appeared in July and at 

 harvest time all plants were so badly infested that none of them were har- 

 vested; however, the plats seeded prior to May 5th all gave a decidedly 

 more uniform stand and more vigorous plant groAvth. 



SPRING BARLEY. 



Barley testing has been confined to the three varieties, Michigan Black 

 Barbless, Michigan 2-Row and Oderbrucker. The black barley in 1919 and 

 the Michigan 2-Row in 1920 gave the highest yield. There are several 

 factors entering into barley production in northern Michigan that will re- 

 quire investigation for the best production of the crop. 



Development op Pedigreed Varieties. 



The second line of work with the small grains is the starting of the individ- 

 ual plant selections from which pedigreed varieties will be developed for the 

 Upper Peninsula. 



Sixty-five of these selection plats, representing as many different strains 

 of the various small grains, were planted in 1919 in such a way that the plant 

 resulting from an individual kernel could be selected. The grain coming 

 from these individual plant selections were put into plant row series in 1920 

 and from the best of these rows, selections were made for planting in increase 

 plats for 1921. 



This type of crop improvement work takes time, but it is by this method 

 that we will ultimately develop pedigreed varieties best suited to the needs 

 of the Upper Peninsula. The better pedigreed strains developed will be 

 tested out against the commercial varieties found best suited for Upper 

 Peninsula conditions and the superior ones distributed to improved grain 

 growers. 



