AGRONOMY 



Experimental work in agronomy for the year has inckuied opera- 

 tions upon the old Experiment Station farm near Phoenix previous to 

 removal from that place June 30, 1916; the initiation of work upon 

 the new Experiment Station farm between Tempe and Mesa ; dry- 

 farming operations on the Prescott Dry Farm near Prescott, and on the 

 Sulphur Spring Valley Dry Farm near Cochise, Arizona. This work 

 has therefore included experiments and demonstrations on a wide 

 variety of soils under irrigation and by dry-farming, and with a con- 

 siderable range of atmospheric conditions. A good deal of informa- 

 tion has been obtained relating to standard crops — wheat, barley, oats, 

 alfalfa, beans, and sorghum grains, as well as with some new crops in 

 the region. The work finishing operations at the old farm near Phoe- 

 nix is reported in considerable detail. The plan of reclamation at the 

 new farm near ]\Iesa is outlined and a table of the first season's results 

 is submitted. A summary for the work done at the Prescott and Sul- 

 phur Spring Valley Dry Farms for the year is also given. 



PHOENIX FARM 



The experimental crop work on the Phoenix Farm this year was 

 limited to small grains, flax, and alfalfa. The work was limited on ac- 

 count of the intention to discontinue experimental operations on this 

 farm at the end of the fiscal year 1916. 



The character of the soil is designated as Maricopa sandy loam. 

 Little attention has been paid to the maintenance of fertility in previous 

 years, hence the quantities of the crops are below the average. Since, 

 however, most of the experiments were variety tests, the relationship 

 tetween yields of grains tried can be quite accurately observed. 



CROPS GROWN 



Wheat : The work for the year demonstrated the superiority of 

 fall over spring planting. All of the 21 varieties tested this year were 

 planted in the fall. All seed used in the tests was treated with formalin 

 for smut. Xo introduction of new varieties was made, hence all seed 

 of this year's plantings were grown on the farm last year. 



The season was such that very little rust appeared. The Early Baart 

 and the Little Club were the only varieties showing this disease in in- 

 jurious amounts. The following table gives the varieties in the order 

 of their production, and also shows dates of planting, harvesting, irri- 

 gating and rate of seeding per acre. 



