95 



field tests and cliciuicid analyses, and the ivst were reserved for the 

 Station museum. Tlie i-esults of the chemical analyses and the field 

 experiments will be <^'iven in a future bulletin. Diagrams illustrate 

 l)lants of frosted and unfrosted wheat. 



Experiments in germination and growth of damaged avheat 

 AND BARLEY, S. B. Green, B. S. (pp. 11-28).— This article gives full 

 details of observations on the germination and growth of some 

 thirty-seven samples of frosted wheat and barley in prairie soil in 

 boxes in a greenhouse. Among the points noted are character of 

 grain (some of which was in extremely poor condition) as to source, 

 grade, as determined by State inspectors, weight, proportion of ker- 

 nels that germinated, growth and develo2:)ment of plants, and per cent 

 of seed producing health}^ plants. The difference between growing 

 wheat in a greeidiouse and in open ground is discussed, and letters 

 from wheat-growers who examined the experiments are given. The 

 results were unexpectedly favorable for the germination and growth 

 of frosted grain. It must be noticed, however, that the conditions of 

 growth in these ex^^eriments were more favorable than those usually 

 found in the field. Farmers are advised to aAvait further experiments 

 l)ef()re using frosted wheat for seed, especially in consideration of the 

 magnitude of the interests at stake. 



BULLETIN No. 7, APRIL. IS.SO. 



Announce:\ient (p. 4) of the resignation of Edward D. Porter, 

 Ph. I)., and the election of N. W. McLain, LL. P>., as director of the 

 Station. 



Soil temperatures, E. D. Porter, Ph. D. (pp. 5-11). — Observa- 

 tions were begun January 1, 1889, Avith a set of ten soil thermometers. 

 These instruments and the method of their arrangement are described. 

 To make winter observations possible, gas pipes were set in the 

 ground and the thermometers put in them. The source of error from 

 having the thermometers in iron pipes rather than in the soil itself 

 is referred to. Records of daily observations for January, February, 

 -March, and April are given, together with notes on the freezing and 

 thawing of the soil. The average temperatures at depth of 3 inches 

 for these months, in the order named above, were 25°, 19°, 41°, and 

 58° ; at the depth of 5 feet, 38°, 34°, 33°, and 30°. 



Tlie soil at this Station, gravel and sand with a good admixture of clay, froze 

 to a dejith of more than 4 foet, though the winter was unusually mild. 



]ii:sT nakjetjes of corn for stlace, pi D. Porter, Ph. D. (pp. 

 12-20). 



Compamtioe tests of varieties (pp. 12, 13). — The tests Avere begun 

 in 1887 (see Bulletin No. 2 and Annual Report for 1888, p. 90) and 

 continued in 18SS. One to five roAvs, 100 feet long, AA^ere planted with 

 each variety, all being treated alike. Xotes on the height, stage of 

 growth, general appearance and distance apart of stalks in row were 

 taken Aveekly. From the actual yield the corresponding yield in tons 



