830 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



winter eruruer and barley did not give satisfactory results. Nearly all the 

 varieties of spring barley tried ripened before frost occurred. A description 

 Is given of each of the different varieties of barley grown and data show the 

 results of various crosses made. Tabular statements are given comparing the 

 adaptability of the various oat and winter wheat varieties grown and also 

 the growth and hardiness of certain grasses and legumes. All of the grasses 

 and legumes grown survived the winter in excellent condition. Timothy sur- 

 vived the winter in perfect condition but the summer's growth was short and 

 spindling. Oat bay at Calsinsky Bay and Kodiak yielded li and 2i tons 

 respectively per acre. 



At the Fairbanks Station the following grains matured : North Finnish 

 Black oats, oats No. G37, and Sixty-day oats. Barleys which matured are 

 Hansen No. 279 ; Manshury ; barley No. 19,851, a beardless and hull-less variety ; 

 barley No. 19,852, also a beardless variety ; and even Hannah, a two-rowed 

 rather late barley matured on a favorably situated plat. Spring wheat was a 

 failure, but winter wheat was more successful. Khai'kov winter wheat sur- 

 vived the winter with a 50 per cent stand and was ripe by August 15. Winter 

 rye No. 19,556 survived the winter in better condition than wheat and was 

 ripe by August 10. Experiments with grasses have so far proved unsatisfactory. 



The proper culture of grain and the maintenance of soil fertility in Alaska 

 are also discussed. 



[jGuam forag'e crop and grain storing' experiments], J. B. Thompson 

 (Z7. S. Dcpt. Afjr., Office Expt. Stas. Rpt. 1910, pp. 505, 50G, 507-509, pi. 1, fig. 

 1). — ^At the Guam Station the sorghums have suii^assed all other crops under ob- 

 servation for forage purposes. Kafir corn on new soil has yielded about 11 tons 

 of gi-een feed per acre. The first crop was obtained in about 3 months during the 

 dry season, but 2 successive ratoon crops at intervals of about 6 weeks pi'o- 

 duced about as great yields. Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) made little 

 headway on poorly drained soil during a wet season, but yielded 12 tons per 

 acre on soil lower in fertility, after the roots had been taken up and subdivided. 

 Johnson grass {Sorghum halcpense) made a satisfactory growth, but showed 

 its usual tendency to spread. Large water grass (Paspalum dilatatum) gave 

 excellent results throughout both the wet and dry seasons and did well on poorly 

 drained soil during long periods of heavy rainfall. Alfalfa did well during the 

 dry season but its success during the rainy season is still undetermined. Cow- 

 peas and velvet beans have also made a good growth. 



A description is given of an air-tight metal tank, hermetically sealed by a 

 heavy oil such as coconut oil, for storing grain. The problem is to avoid injury 

 from weevils and atmospheric moisture. Corn stored in such a tank December 

 16 showed no deterioration 6 months later. 



[Nebraska field crops experiments! {Nebraska Sta. Rpt. 1910, pp. IX-XIV, 

 XX-XXIV, XXV, XXF/).— Data obtained during the year are reported. 



In a test of the water requirements of corn, narrow-leafed types selected from 

 Hogue Yellow Dent proved more drought-resistant than broad-leafed types of 

 this variety. During 1908-9 plants averaging 1,300 and 992 sq. in. in leaf area 

 yielded 43.6 and 52.1 bu. of corn per acre, respectively. 



Since 1903 the produce of selected Turkey Red winter wheat plants has been 

 kept separate, being compared for 4 years under nursery conditions, and a like 

 period in the field. Of the 26 strains tested in the field the lowest 3 averaged 

 30 bu. per acre, the best 3 averaged 40 bu.. and the check plats of the original 

 wheat 35 bu. Eleven years' results indicate that practically equal yields of 

 wheat follow plantings of the lightest and heaviest seed as separated by the 

 fanning mill. Six years' work with oats gives similar results. The lightest 

 fourth of the light seed and the heaviest fourth of the heavy seed were used. 



