THE EXPERIMENT IN NORTH DAKOTA. 37 



PREPARATION OF LAND, SEEDING, AND SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT. 



In regard to the crops previously grown on the field, preparation 

 of the seed bed, nurse crop used, and notes concerning the growth of 

 the strains during the first year, the data below are given from Profes- 

 sor Shepperd's annual report for 1904.'' 



The land used for this trial produced a crop of corn in 1902, barley in 1903, and clover 

 trial plats were seeded witli wheat as a nurse crop in 1904. The field liad been fall-plowed 

 in 1903. It was disked on May 10 and harrowed twice with a peg-tootlied harrow on 

 May 11. The land was very wet in the spring and after the excess of water finally evap- 

 orated a period of very dry weather caused the soil to bake. The seed bed was far from 

 being in an ideal condition on May 12, the date upon which the wheat was seeded. The 

 wheat was sown at the rate of 5 pecks per acre with Fife seed. Four days later the clover 

 seed was sown by hand at a rate slightly less than 10 pounds per acre. The clover seed 

 was covered by harrowing with a peg-toothed harrow. 



Notes recorded June 1.5 state that the wlieat was showing a good stand and that the 

 clover plants had appeared above the surface. On tlie above date it was observed that the 

 clover was showing especially well upon the higher places in the almost level field. 



On the dates July 25 and 26, the wheat, which was just forming kernels, was cut for 

 hay and removed from the field. The sickle l)ar was set as high as the machine would allow 

 and left the stubble about 5 inches high. The best of the clover was .so high upon that date 

 that it was clipped off by the sickle. 



On August 2 Missouri (No. 6), Eastern Ohio (No. 12), Russian (No. 15), and Wisconsin 

 (No. 19) made a much l)etter showing than the plats from other .sources of seed. Obser- 

 vations recorded on September 10 show especially favorable to Missouri (No. 6) and Wis- 

 consin (No. 19), while Illinois (No. 5) and Russian (No. 15) were also reported as showing 

 well. 



WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING 1904 AND 1905. 



On September 10, 1904, immediately after which date a kilKng 

 frost occurred, there seemed to be a sufficient growth of clover and 

 of wheat stubble to form a moderate winter protection for the clover 

 plats. 



With the exception of August, w^hich had a total precipitation of 

 only 0.69 inch, there w^as an abundance of moisture throughout the 

 growing season. The mean temperature during June, July, and 

 August was from 2 to 5 degrees below normal. 



The winter of 1904-5 was quite severe, but in spite of the long- 

 continued cold and low temperatures no loss due to winterkilling was 

 observed on any of the plats. 



According to notes taken on May 1 the strains from Mogileff, 

 Courland, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee, in the order given, 

 showed the poorest stands. The best stand of all was on the Illinois 

 plat, which was closely seconded by those sown to seed from eastern 

 Ohio and Nebraska. 



a Fifteenth Annual Report, North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, pp. 96-97. 

 95 



