UXIVEKSITY OF ARIZONA 315 



tions before they will be ready for general planting. However, 

 these wheats are regarded as very promising on account of their 

 high yield and strong straw which stands up well when the wheat 

 is grown on irrigated lands rich in organic matter. One of the 

 worst troubles in growing the present standard milling wheats of 

 the State is that, when they are planted immediately after alfalfa, 

 or other lands rich in nitrogen, they lodge badly. 



II. The main object sought in the wheat breeding at this 

 Station is to find, or produce by hybridization, a wheat of high 

 gluten content of superior quality. In an effort to combine the 

 high gluten contents of the hard wheats of Kansas, such as the 

 Turkey Red, with the early, high yielding Sonora wheat, crosses 

 of these wheats were made in the screen garden on the campus in 

 the spring of 1917. Thirty-three hybrids from this cross were 

 grown in the screen garden during the winter and s])ring of 1917 

 and 1918. Notes were taken on the earliness of the plants, type of 

 head and other plant characters, and quality of the grain. The first 

 heads of these hybrids appeared between April 16 and April 23, 

 while the first heads of the Turkey parent appeared between April 

 29 and May 12. It thus appears that there is a possibility of get- 

 ting an early Turkey wheat selection out of these hybrids when it 

 breaks up into various types in succeeding generations. Earliness 

 in wheat, especially in the irrigated valleys of Arizona, is regarded 

 of prime importance in establishing a wheat wnth a high gluten con- 

 tent of superior quality. When wheats continue growing in the 

 warm days of late spring abundant irrigation is necessary which 

 always reduces both the quantity and the quality of the gluten in 

 the grain. 



III. Another series of wheat hybrids was made the past year 

 for the sole purpose of studying the manner of inheritance of the 

 various characters in wheat. Wheats were selected for these crosses 

 in such a way that every visible character was paired with its oppo- 

 site or its absence. In the succeeding generations a study will be 

 made of the factors controlling gluten content, strength of straw, 

 and the various factors which control yield. 



IV. Several selections from each of Early Baart, Turkey Red, 

 Arizona 39, Sonora, Algerian Macaroni, and Alaskan wheats have 

 been under test for several years. As result of these tests one or 

 two high yielding strains have been developed from each of these 

 varieties. In addition to yield, the milling and baking qualities, 

 rust resistance, and strong, non-lodging straw under irrigation have 



