30 IMPROVEMENT OF THE WHEAT CEOP IN CALIFORNIA. 



As indicated in Table III, a higher percentage of protein is pro- 

 duced in a short growing and fruiting period than in a long period. 

 The yields of Chul wheat are nearly equal, while there is some differ- 

 ence in those of the Fretes. In order to shorten the periods and pro- 

 duce grain rich in protein, the seeding should be done as late as 

 possible in the fall. The Chul variety is especially adapted to late 

 seeding for the reason that it is a vigorous grower and ripens early. 

 Excellent results have been obtained from the Chul when sown as 

 late as February 25, but usually the seeding should be done between 

 November 15 and December 25. The Fretes seed should be in the 

 ground by December 15. The above dates refer to the time of seed- 

 ing in the San Joaquin Valley. These wheats may be sown a month 

 later in the Sacramento Valley and still give good results under ordi- 

 nary conditions. 



SUMMARY. 



Wheat yields in California are low and the quality poor. Experi- 

 ments have been conducted to discover the causes and remedies. 

 Two remedies are proposed in this bulletin, namely, better cultiva- 

 tion methods and better varieties. 



The cultivation methods commonly practiced by the wheat farmers 

 of California are unsatisfactory. They consist in the continuous 

 cropping of wheat and barley upon soil which receives only a very 

 shallow cultivation. 



The farmer removes the plant food from the soil without adding 

 anything to take its place. This is resulting in many localities in a 

 depleted condition of the soil and in unprofitable crops. 



When wheat was at first produced, good crops were secured by 

 very shallow plowing, broadcasting the seed, and harrowing it into 

 the soil. Very little attempt was made to secure pure seed or to 

 practice the careful grading of wheat. 



Some important changes have taken place, among which are (1) 

 the replacing of the header and stationary thrasher by the combined 

 harvester and (2) the practice of summer-fallowing the land. A 

 reduced size of farms and an increased depth of plowing occur in 

 individual instances. 



In many sections of the State there has resulted from the original 

 methods a soil depleted in humus and nitrates and foul with weeds, 

 which fails to produce profitable crops. There are three chief 

 requirements in restoring the production of profitable crops. These 

 are (1) smaller farms, personally supervised; (2) improved methods, 

 including deeper plowing, increasing the humus and nitrates of the 

 soil, and cleaning the land of weeds; and (3) the development of 

 better varieties. 



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