30 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.38 



FIELD CKOPS. 



[Work with field crops at the Belle Fourche reclamation project experi- 

 ment farm in 1916], B. Aune {U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus., Work Belle 

 Fourche Expt. Farm, 1916, pp. 1-6, 10, 11, 12-16, 19-26, figs. 2).— Oontinuing 

 work previously noted (E. S. R., 36, p. 131), the results of experiments with 

 pasture mixtures, rotation tests with irrigated field crops, fall Irrigation experi- 

 ments for annual crops (E. S. R., 37, p. 822), and variety tests with small grains, 

 corn, potatoes, and root crops are reported for 1916. Climatic conditions on the 

 project for 1916 are I'eviewed and meteorological observations from 1908 to 1916, 

 inclusive, summarized. Additional data show the acreage, yields, and farm 

 values of crops produced on the project in 1916 and of the principal crops grown 

 from 1913 to 1916, inclusive. 



Four grass, clover, and alfalfa mixtures seeded in 1915 were clipped at inter- 

 vals of 10, 20, and 40 days to determine what frequency of clipping would give 

 the maximum production. Clippings made every 10 or 20 days gave no appre- 

 ciable difference in yields, but those made every 40 days increased the forage 

 yield 50 per cent or more. White clover appeared to stand frequent clipping 

 much better than alsike clover. Alfalfa produced slightly more forage in the 

 spring than brome-grass, two and a half times as much in midsummer, and three 

 times as much in the autumn. Brome-grass, slender wheat-grass, and alfalfa 

 are reported as being distinctly superior in quantity of forage produced in 1916. 

 White and alsike clovers, alfalfa, tall fescue, meadow fescue, redtop, and Ken- 

 tucky blue-grass appeared to make the best growth during midsummer, while 

 white clover, alfalfa, tall fescue, redtop, and Kentucky blue-grass made supe- 

 rior fall growth. Timothy made poor growth throughout the entire season. 

 '^ The average yields of crops grown in the irrigated rotation experiments in 

 1916 amounted to 3.42 tons for alfalfa, 7.03 tons for sugar beets, 39.5 bu. for 

 corn, 10 bu. for spring wheat, 11.9 bu. for winter wheat, 54.7 bu. for oats, 24.4 

 bu. for barley, 7.07 bu. for flax, 153.8 bu. for potatoes, 0.66 ton for clover, and 

 2.08 bu. for clover seed. All the small grain yields were affected by unfavor- 

 able climatic conditions. Practically no winterkilling occurred with alfalfa 

 seeded in oat stubble before the last of August. 



Small-grain varietal tests were seriously affected in 1916 by unfavorable 

 weather conditions and by injury from rust. In tests with winter grain, wheat 

 outyielded rye, while the yields of emmer and spelt were less than those of 

 either wheat or rye and, due to their low feeding value, they are deemed un- 

 suited to this region. Turkey selection and Kharkof winter wheats, with 2- 

 year average yields of 39 and 38.8 bu. per acre, respectively, were first in the 

 variety tests. Swedish (Minn. No. 2) rye yielded 27.7 bu. per acre and North 

 Dakota No. 959, 25.2 bu. 



In variety tests with spring wheats, Kubanka gave consistently high yields, 

 resulting in an average of 21 bu. per acre for the period of 1913 to 1916, in- 

 clusive. Marquis was second with 16 bu. per acre. 



Oat variety tests are reported for the period of 1912 to 1916, inclusive, with 

 White Russian highest with an average yield of 43.7 bu. per acre. Swedish 

 Select was second with 38.6 bu. and Canadian third with 36.5 bu. 



Chevalier and Chevalier II barleys, 2-rowed hulled types with 3-year average 

 yields of 29 and 28.7 bu. per acre, respectively, were the highest-yielding barley 

 varieties tested. Himalaya (Guy Mayle, awned) was highest of the 6-rowed 

 naked types with 22.5 bu., while the average yield of Manchuria (Wis. No. 

 18), a 6-rowed hulled type, was 19.1 bu. White Spring emmer. grown for 

 comparison with barley, yielded 42.5 bu. per acre, or 1,360 lbs. of grain, as 

 compared with a yield of 1,393 lbs. of grain from Chevalier barley. 



