222 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Variety tests of wheat, W, M. Hays {Minnesota Sta. Bui. 46, pp. 

 342-350). — Previous work iu this line was published in Bulletiu 40 of 

 the station (E. S. R., 7, p. 118). The yields and other data are tabu- 

 lated for 22 .varieties of sjiring wheat selected from 250 varieties pre- 

 viously grown at the station and on a private farm. The best 5 

 varieties, an average of 5 years, were Bolton Blue Stem, Glyndon ^o. 

 711, White Russian, Blount Hybrid No. lo, and Power Fife. 



Original seed vs. seed improved by selection (pp. 340-348). — Tabulated 

 yields of grain and straw, and other data, are given for 44 samples of 

 wheat, comparing original seed with seed improved by selection. The 

 yield of Ilaynes Blue Stem was 21.6 bu. per acre. The average yield 

 of 8 improved varieties derived from it was 31.9 bu., an increase of 

 over 10 bu. per acre. The yield of Power Fife was 26.3 bu., and the 

 average yield of 7 varieties derived from it was 35.4 bu., a gain of 

 9.1 bu. The average yield of 5 of Saunders' crossbred varieties was 

 38.6 bu. The large yields were due to especially favorable conditions. 



Crossed wheats (pp. 348-350). — The method followed at the station 

 for crossing wheats is described, and tabulated data are given for 18 

 crossbred varieties. 



Tillage experiments, W. M. Hays {Minnesota Sta. Bui. 46, pp. 384- 

 389). — These trials were made in the southwestern part of the State on 

 a farm near Camden, on 88 tenth-acre plats. An elaborate series of 

 experiments was planned for the purpose of studying the best method 

 of conserving soil moisture. On a medium heavy soil of mixed clay, 

 sand, and gravel, 6 plats were plowed in the fall and in the spring at 

 depths of 3|, 5^, and 7^ in., and sown to wheat with the press and 

 chain drills on duplicate plats. In all cases the fall-plowed land 

 yielded several bushels more per acre. 



In a comparison of land manured with barnyard manure, rotted and 

 fresh, with unmanured land, iu 5 cases out of 7 the unmanured plat gave 

 largest returns of wheat per acre. Subsoiling for wheat was unprofit- 

 able. A comparative trial of shoe-chain and shoe-press drills and broad- 

 cast seeders favored the shoe-press drill. Wheat sown in drills 21 and 

 28 in. apart, and cultivated, yielded less than that sown in the ordinary 

 way. No differences were shown in plowing for wheat 3i, oh, and 7^ in. 

 deep. Burning the stubble and preparing the seed bed with a disk 

 harrow gave as good results as plowing. 



Silage and silos, W. P. Wheeler {New Yorl- State Sta. Bui. 102, 

 n. ser., pp. 89-105, Jigs. 1). — A popular bulletin embracing the following- 

 topics: The comparative advantages of preserving fodder in the silo 

 and by dry curing, silage and roots, losses in the silo, variety and matur- 

 ity of silage crops, silage for different stock, silage and milk, silo con- 

 struction, rectangular silos, round silo, freezing and ventilation, cost, 

 preservation of the silo, filling the silo, and harvesting the crop. 



The author considers Indian corn the best plant for silage, that it 

 is cheaper and generally more efficient than roots, and equal in feeding 



