FIELD CROPS. 633 



A study of the effect of cutting' grain at different stages of maturity 

 for several years in succession showed that the largest yield of grain 

 and the best quality of seed were produced from the crop which was 

 allowed to mature before cutting. 



Experiments in treating seed wheat for the prevention of smut were 

 conducted for 3 years. Grain from untreated seed contained an 

 average of 170 smut balls per pound, while seed treated with potassium 

 sulphid produced an average of 12 smut balls and that treated with 

 either copper sulphate or hot water less than 1 ball of smut per pound 

 of grain. 



Some of the results of cooperative experiments with winter wheat 

 published elsewhere (E. S. K., 10, p. 3G) are given in the bulletin. 



Wheat, winter oats, barley, and lime experiments, R. H. Miller 

 and E. H. Brinkley {Maryland Sta. Bui. 56, pp. 153-166). — The experi- 

 ments consisted of variety tests of wheat and winter oats; a study of 

 the effects of lime on the production of wheat, hay, and corn; a test of 

 lime and cowpeas as a preparation for wheat; trials of seeding winter 

 oats at different times; and a test of the hot- water treatment of barley 

 seed for the prevention of smut. 



The results of variety tests of wheat made in 1896 and 1897 are tabu- 

 lated. Among the varieties tested for 6 years Fultz gave the highest 

 yield, 37.8 bu. per acre, followed by Currell Prolific, Wisconsin Triumph, 

 and Valley, yielding 3G.2, 34.9, and 33.7 bu. per acre, respectively. 

 Beal, Ruby, Terry, and Rocky Mountain are considered promising new 

 varieties. 



Different amounts of lime up to 40 bu. per acre, applied to a number 

 of wheat plats, showed that the increase in yield was in direct propor- 

 tion to the amount of lime applied, but larger applications did not give 

 satisfactory results. To test the effect of lime and cowpeas as a prep- 

 aration for wheat, 2 plats of very poor soil were prepared for seeding 

 in the spring. One plat received an application of 40 bu. of stone lime 

 and then cowpeas were drilled in on both plats at the rate of 5 pk. per 

 acre. The growth of the cowpeas was best on the limed plat. The 

 cowpeas were plowed under and the plats were sown to wheat and 

 timothy in the fall and clover was sown on both plats the next spring. 

 There was an increase of only 1.6 bu. per acre in the yield of wheat on 

 the limed plat, but this plat has "a very fine stand of both clover and 

 timothy, while there is scarcely any clover and a poor stand of timothy 

 on the plat receiving no lime." The test of the effect of lime on hay 

 and corn showed a decided gain for both crops in favor of the limed 

 plat. 



The varieties of winter oats tested were Hatchett, Black Winter, 

 Winter, and Virginia Gray, the latter producing the best yield. For 

 2 years in succession better results were obtained from sowing winter 

 oats September 1 than from sowing September 15 and 30. 



Hot-water treatment of seed bailey proved effective in the prevention 

 of smut. The plat on which the seed had been treated had practically 



