134 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



mis from ?,0 or 40 different sources bas been tried and quite a difference was 

 noted in the character of the plants from the different lots of seeds. The yields 

 of a one-fourth acre plat of slender wheat-grass were 980 ll)s., 908 lbs. and 1,920 

 lbs. per acre for the years 1903, 1904, and 1905, respectively. The first two 

 years that this plat was started no hay was cut. Wild rye-grass gave results 

 similar to those of slender wheat-grass. 



In 1905 experiments were conducted to compare some northern-grown va- 

 rieties of corn. Of the early varieties Minnesota No. 13 gave the largest yield 

 and produced the best quality of corn. In a series of rotation plats this variety 

 jielded an average of 46 bu. per acre. A plat of flint corn planted May 25 

 ripened September 26 and yielded 64 bu. per acre. All varieties of sorghum 

 were a failure in 1904 on account of the late drought, but in 1905 a large amount 

 of fodder was produced, and some varieties gave a good crop of seed. Mon- 

 tana No. .341 was the earliest variety grown. In 1905 this variety grew to a 

 height of 9 ft. 8 in., and produced 6 tons and 88 lbs. of fodder per acre. 



Cereal investigations, J. »S'. Cole and 8. Balz (pp. 45-60). — This work is car- 

 ried on in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry of this Department. 

 Earlier results have been previously noted (E. S. R., 16, p. 364). Of durum 

 wheat 49 varieties have been under trial. In 1903 the yield ran from 9 bu. to 

 20.2 bu. per acre, the average being 14.9 bu., in 1904 from 8.2 bu. to 23.8 bu., 

 with an average of 14.7 bu., and in 1905 from 20.8 to 38.7 bu. per acre, the aver- 

 age being 28.6 bu. The average yield per acre of the 10 best varieties of durum 

 \A heat for the three years varied from 20 to 24.4 bu. The leading varieties of 

 other grains and their yields in 1905 were as follows : Pedigree blue stem, 

 common bread wheat, 24.8 bu., Horn barley, 54.4 bu.. Sixty Day oats, 64 bu., 

 Emmer No. 1524, 2,410 lbs., winter rye, 25.7 bu., winter wheat, 6.8 bu. The 

 winter wheat was badly winterkilled, but the winter rye made nearly a per- 

 fect stand. 



Studies were also made on the effects of the immediately preceding crop on the 

 yield of grain in an unfavorable season, and the experience points out that as 

 good a crop of grain can be grown following a well-tended crop of corn as can 

 be grown after the best summer-fallow. In a test with heavy and light seed 

 made in 1905 the heavier seed in every case but one gave the heavier yield. 

 In the average of seven trials there was a difference of 2.17 l)u. per acre from 

 an average difference of 14.3 1])S. per bushel in the weight of the seed. In some 

 instances the lighter seed lu'oduced a heavier crop of straw but a lighter yield 

 of grain than was secured from the heavier seed. 



Agriculture and animal husbandry [field crops], (4. II. True (Nevada 8ta. 

 Rpt. 1905, pp. 40-42, pl. !)■ — Brief notes on the station work during the year 

 are presented. 



The experiments were conducted in cooperation with this Department, and 

 their purpose was to determine the least amount of water consistent vs'ith good 

 growth in growing crops under irrigation. It was found that on the station 

 farm twice as much water is required to grow a crop of alfalfa as in some other 

 localities. On a farm in the Lower Humboldt Valley 3.54 ft. of water were 

 used, while on the station farm the same season 7.60 ft. were applied. It is 

 I)ointed out that these differences in the amounts of water used are due to the 

 difference in the water-holding capacity of the soil. A yield of 25,919 lbs. of 

 corn fodder per acre was secured with 4 irrigations and a total amount of water 

 equal to about 2.50 ft. One-half acre of potatoes, cultivated once and receiving 

 G irrigations aggregating 4.65 ft. of water, yielded 300 lbs. of marketable pota- 

 toes less than a one-half acre plat cultivated after every one of 5 irrigations 

 and receiving only 3.64 ft. of water. 



