142 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



with similar data accumulated since. An Alabama strain of Bluestem with an 

 average yield of 15.9 bu. per acre and Red Wonder with 16.9 bu. are considered 

 to be among the leading varieties for those sorts grown four or more years, 

 based on a comparison with Fulcaster grown each year of the test with an 

 average yield of 13 bu. The average yield for all bearded varieties was 14.2 

 bu. and for all beardless kinds 14.7 bu. 



Cultural methods deemed best suited for growing the crop in the State are 

 briefly indicated. 



Natural cross-pollination in wheat. H. K. BATES (Jour. Amcr. Soc. Agron., 

 10 (1918), Ao. 3. pp. 120-122). — This paper, a contribution from the Minnesota 

 Experiment Station, reports observations on wheat grown on nursery plats 

 on the university farm to ascertain the frequency of cross-pollination between 

 various types. 



Fifty plants of Haynes Bluestem selected in 1915 and grown in Individual 

 plats in 191G resulted in 3 individuals which proved to be definite natural 

 hybrids. One plant gave 45 brown and 19 white chaff individuals; a second 

 gave 32 hairy brown chaff, 16 hairy white chaff. 13 smooth brown chaff, and 5 

 smooth white chaff plants; while a third gave 40 hairy and 19 smooth chaff 

 plants. Two other selections gave both red and white kernels. 



Of 47 plant selections of Marquis grown in 1916 from selections made in 

 field variety tests, all were true for the Marquis type of head, but two gave 

 both red and white kernels. In the winter-wheat nursery, one selection out of 

 54 proved to be a natural hybrid. Of numerous plant selections made in 1916 

 and grown in 1917, several gave definite indications of being 1 



It is concluded that the results indicate that conditions in 1915 and 1916 

 were either very favorable for natural crossing in wheat or that cross-pollina- 

 tion is much more frequent than is generally supposed. 



Natural crossing in wheat, II. K. Hayzs (Jour. Heredity, 9 (1918), Xo. 7, 

 pp. 326-330, 884, f"J s - 2). — Work similar to thai noted above was continued 

 during 1917 and 191S and is said to have indicated that considerable natural 

 crossing occurred. The observed crossing in lines of Triticum vuh/urr amounted 

 to 1.3 per cent, and assuming that it occurred as often between plants of the 

 same variety as between different sorts natural crossing in 1917 is believed 

 to have ranged from 2 to 3 per cent. The appearance of F, plants in sup- 

 posedly pure lines of wheat is thought to have led to the belief that hybrids 

 frequently revert to type. 



A considerable number of commercial samples of Preston. Haynes Blue- 

 stem. Minnesota 169, and Marquis wheat have been examined, and in nearly 

 every case some unpigmented seeds found which, as a rule, bred true to the 

 general characters of the variety. One such from a Marquis sample bred true 

 for hairy chaff and closely approached Marquis in seed shape. While results 

 of this nature might be explained as mutations, it is thought that " in the light 

 of the data here given, It seems more logical to consider that they are the 

 result of natural crosses." 



A mechanical explanation of progressive changes in the proportions of 

 hard and soft kernels in wheat, G. F. Freeman (Jour. Amer. Boo. Agron., 10 

 (1918), No. i. pp. 23-28). — The author reports observations of commercial 

 varieties of durum wheat and of local and introduced commercial types of bread 

 wheat, grown on the Arizona Experiment Station farm at Yuma to ascertain 

 why bard wheats of high-milling quality introduced into this region are often 

 lost or soon deteriorate until they are no better than the ordinan local sorts. 



Head selections of white and red durum, poulard, and red and white bread 



wheals, all local strains, and of a commercial type of Turkey wheat obtained in 



t 



