FIELD CROPS. 333 



Umatilla experiment farm located about two miles north of Hermiston, Oreg., 

 and along the same general lines as that of 1912 (E. S. R., 29. p. 540). Climatic, 

 agricultural, and market conditions of the project are discussed, as well as 

 soil-fertility experiments, green manure crops, irrigation methods, and extension 

 work. 



Variety tests of potatoes gave yields up to 142.4 bu. per acre (by American 

 Wonder). A variety test of peanuts gave yields up to 28.4 bu. per acre (by 

 African). It is noted that conditions are not favorable for growing peanuts 

 for commercial purposes. Of seven varieties of com tested for grain and silo 

 purposes Pride of the North apparently gave the most satisfaction, with a 

 yield of 5,073 lbs. per acre of cured grain and stover combined. 



Cereal experiments at Dickinson, N. Dak., J. A. Claek (U. S. Dept. Agr. 

 Bill. 33 (1914), PP- H, pl- ly fiffs- 7). — This bulletin reports upon the testing and 

 improvement of cereal varieties that have been carried on since 1907 by the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, in cooperation with the North Dakota Station 

 (B. S. R., 24, p. 725). The soil and climatic conditions at the station are 

 discussed. 



The methods employed in the field experiments are described. Two methods 

 of determining the comparative or computed yields of the varieties by the use 

 of check plats were used at various times. The equations employed are given 

 as a?=a+(& — U) and op—a^^yXb or ab-i-y, wherein a is the actual yield of the 

 variety, b the average yield of all check plats, x the computed yield of the 

 variety, and y the assumed yield of the check. The latter is noted as proving 

 the more satisfactory of the two. 



Actual and computed yields of variety tests of over 50 varieties of spring 

 wheat are given in tabular form. The results show that for the different groups 

 " the durum, fife, bearded fife, and bluestem varieties I'ank in yield in the 

 order named. The average actual yield for 6 years (1907-1911 and 1913) of 

 the 2 leading durum varieties (Kubanka and Arnautka) is 11.5 per cent greater 

 than the average yield of the 2 leading fife varieties (Ghirka Spring and 

 Rysting) and 29.4 per cent greater than the average yield of the 2 leading blue- 

 stem varieties (Crossbred and Haynes). There is little difference in the yield 

 of the fife and bearded fife varieties." 



A few varieties of outstanding merit of each group are described and their 

 performance discussed. 



From a study of the milling and baking qualities of the crops of 1911 and 1913, 

 the author concludes that " the bluestem group averaged the greatest percentage 

 of flour, with the durums a close second. The bearded fife and fife varieties 

 averaged practically the same, the yield being considerably less than that of the 

 bluestems. The durum variety Kubanka No. 8 gave the highest average per- 

 centage of flour for any one variety, 73.9 per cent. Bakings, which were made 

 in duplicate from these flours, showed the volume of the loaf of the bluestem 

 varieties to be the largest, that of the fife varieties next largest, with the 

 bearded fife and durums following in the order named. The fife variety White 

 Fife (C. I. No. 3319) gave the greatest average volume (2,370 cc.) to the loaf." 



In testing oats, four groups were recognized, medium early, medium late, 

 early, and late, and these ranked in point of yield in the order named. " The 

 average actual yield for the seven years from 1907 to 1913 for the 2 leading 

 medium-early varieties is 12.5 per cent greater than the average actual yield 

 of the 2 leading early varieties. For the five years 1908, 1909, and 1911 to 1913, 

 the average actual yield of the leading medium-early variety is 13 per cent 

 greater than that of the medium-late variety, 17 per cent greater than that 

 of the leading early variety, and 36.5 per cent greater than that of the late one. 



