FIELD CROPS. 339 



Canadian field peas and Abrnzzes rye as green manure crops, and the intro- 

 duction of improved wheat varieties. 



Land that produced 26 bii. of wheat after summer fallow produced 15.66 bn. 

 the following year, while other wheat yields in the same experiment were as 

 follows: After fallow 28 bu., after horse beans .35.33 bu., after Canadian field 

 peas 33.66 bu., after rye and vetch 50.66 bu., after rye 51.33 bu. These preced- 

 ing crops, except the wheat crop, were turned under as green manure. The 

 vetch was a very poor stand. An improved method of cultivation including 

 double-disking of stubble, 3 plowings, .5, 8, and 4 in. deep respectively, 3 har- 

 rowings, and the purchase of rye seed for a green manure crop increased the 

 cost of cultivation by $4.60, but resulted in an increase of net profit of approxi- 

 mately $10.40. 



Results already obtained led to the recommendation of this method of reduc- 

 ing weeds in wheat : Double disk at once after harvest. After the first rains 

 have germinated the weed seed plow 4 or 5 in. deep and harrow, not later than 

 December 15. Between March 1 and 15, plow 8 to 12 in. deep, harrow, and 

 keep the land well cultivated through the summer whether it lies fallow or not. 

 Plow 4 or 5 in. deep in November, sow the wheat about 2 in. deep, and double 

 harrow just before the grain comes up. Harrow as soon as the ground is dry 

 enough in the spring. Use a rapid, erect, early wheat. 



In a test of 33 varieties, Bolo Blanco and Yantagbay produced yields of 58.39 

 and 57.28 bu. per acre respectively and were good in resistance to shattering. 

 Chul (G. I. No. 2227) and Fretes (G. I. No. 1596) have proved superior to the 

 White Australian and Club varieties in milling qualities and wet gluten con- 

 tent, having 55 and 40 per cent of wet gluten respectively as compared with 

 from 10 to .38 per cent found in Australian samples. A brief history and 

 description of each is given. Fretes required about the same quantity of 

 water to produce a loaf of bread as the Australian wheat but produced loaves 

 slightly smaller and heavier. The Chul variety is especially adapted to late 

 .seeding because of its vigorous growth and early ripening ability. It may be 

 sown as late as February 25 but Fretes should be in the ground by December 

 15. It was found that long growing and fruiting periods produced grains 

 lower in protein content than short growing and fruiting periods. 



[Spraying tests and seed investigations], S. B. McCready (Ann, Rpt. 

 Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm, 35 {1909), pp. //2-//8, fig. 1). — Spraying ex- 

 periments indicate that mustard in standing cereal crops may most effectively 

 be destroyed by the application of 100 lbs. of iron sulphate in -50 gal. of water 

 during bright sunny weather just before the plants bloom. A heavy rain within 

 24 hours after spraying lessens the herbicidal activity of the solution. Whiten- 

 ing put into the solution renders the sprayed strips visible. Field bindweed, 

 sow thistles, Canada thistles, and the i)lantains were not destroyed by the solu- 

 tion. Attempts to kill bindweed by applying 9 or 20 lbs. of iron sulphate crys- 

 tals to patches 4 by 6 ft. resulted in only slight damage to the leaves in case 

 of the lighter application, and 3 weeks later both plats appeared as green as 

 ever. Tar paper weighed down with earth and stones at the sides failed to 

 smother out this weed. 



A large number of alfalfa and clover seed samples were examined to deter- 

 mine their purity, germination capacity, and general quality of the seed. 

 From each of 10 samples of alfalfa seed selected at random from those sub- 

 mitted for test, 100 seed lots of bright, plump seeds, of discolored, plump seeds, 

 and of shrunken seeds showed germination tests of 82..5, .55.3, and 29 i)er cent, 

 respectively. From 10 other but similar lots, sowed in shallow pots, the numbers 

 of healthy, vigorous plants secured were 712. .">69, and 263 per 1,000 seeds, re- 

 54345°— No. 4—10 4 



