26 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



produce better plants than perfect grains of smaller size and weight even if the 

 grains came from the same head. The importance of the (piality of the seed and of 

 a proper and even depth of seeding is also indicated by the results. It is concluded 

 that the depth of seeding should be about 1 in. The results of selecting wheat from 

 the bin corresponded closely to those of the previous season. 



The growth of wheat from mature and immature seed showed that of weak and 

 immature grains, although giving a high percentage of growth in the germinator, 

 over 50 per cent failed to give good results under field conditions. The seed used 

 represented three degrees of maturity, namely, grains harvested when in the milk 

 stage, grains harvested in a soft doughy stage, and thoroughly mature grains. The 

 mature seed produced the most stools and the heaviest yield. 



Germination tests of wheat injured l)y moisture after maturity with brief descrip- 

 tive notes on each sample are reported in a table. In connection with this work it 

 was noticed that in a dry soil soft seeds came up (piicker than hard seeds, but that 

 when the soil was moistened the soft seeds decayed rapidly while the hard seeds 

 survived. 



The growth of wheat in the field was compared with laljoratory germination tests, 

 and these results are also given in taVmlar form. On an average for the 18 samples 

 tested, the difference between the number of stools matured in the "field and the per- 

 centage of growing grains in the germination tests was about 12. 



Flax. — Germination and field tests of flax injured in different ways are reported. 

 The highest percentage of plants which matured in the field in these experiments 

 was 29. The results of experiments in the improvement of flax by the selection of 

 seed from individual i)lants is reported in Bulletin 50 of the station (page 55). With 

 reference to shallow and deep planting of flax, the author makes the following state- 

 ment: "All my observations cause me to believe that the seed bed for flax should 

 be as firm as possible and that the depth of planting should if ])Ossible not exceed 

 an inch of dirt cover." 



Potatoes. — The general results obtained in 1901 bear out the conclusions given in a 

 former bulletin (E. S. R., 9, p. 942). The general conclusion is drawn from experi- 

 ments conducted for several years that the two ends of a tuber are jiractically of equal 

 seed value. An experiment to determine the possibility of root fusion is reported, 

 but the results were negative. 



Miscellaneous e.qu'riineiits. — A series of germination tests of weed seeds jjlanted at 

 different depths was made. The greatest depth from which a seed produced a 

 plant was 5 in. in the case of Ambrosia trifida. The prevalence of different plant 

 diseases during the year is briefiy discussed. A short note on the work in general 

 for the year is given, and the new laboratories of the department are briefly 

 described. 



Experiments with, field crops, R. >S. Shaw . (l/bnfana Sta. Bui. 32, jyp. 16-20). — 

 This is a concise rejiort on variety, culture, and rotation tests. Forty-three selected 

 varieties of wheat gave an average yield of 52.6 bu. per acre. The best results for 

 several years have been o1)tained from Kubanka, Red Fife, Russian 2955, Wild 

 Goose, Wellman Fife, and McKissock Fife. 



The average yield of 33 varieties of oats selected from a collection tested for some 

 years was 87.9 bu. per acre. This season Poland White, American White, White 

 Wonder, and Nameless Beauty were selected. White Russian, a variety selected the 

 previous year, yielded at the rate of 110 bu. per acre, and the grain after cleaning 

 and grading weighed 44 lbs. per measured bushel. 



From about a dozen varieties of peas. Mummy and Canadian Golden Vine were 

 the only varieties considered valuable. 



The selections made from 52 varieties of potatoes under test were as follows: Early 

 varieties — Six Weeks Market, Acme, Early Ohio, Early Oxford, and Early Vaughan; 

 medium varieties — Rural New Yorker No. 2, Lee Favorite, Snow Drop, American 

 Wonder, and Oregon Pearl; Icde varieties — White Maine. 



