FIELD CKOPS. 



425 



21.5 bu., Fifes 23.2 bu., and durums 22.8 bu. per acre. Wheat seeded at the 

 rate of 6 pk. per acre produced the heaviest grain, and 5 pli., the largest yield, 

 in comparison with 3, 4, and 7 pk. The only variety of winter wheat whi<:h 

 survived the winter was sown in corn in August and yielded 35.5 bu. per acre, 

 weighing 63.5 lbs. per bushel. 



In a variety test of oats the yields ranged from 50.3 to 120.6 bu. per acre. 

 In seeding oats at the rate of 2, 4, 6. S, and 10 pk. per acre, the smallest rate 

 gave the best results in 1912, although in 1911 it gave the poorest yield. In a 

 variety test with barley the yields ranged from 36 to 74 bu. per acre. For an 

 average of 5 years, from 190S to 1912, 2-rowed barley yielded 25.6 bu., and 

 6-rowed barley, 28.4 bu. per acre. Two varieties of emmer yielded 79.5 and 

 78 bu. per acre in 1912, with a 5-year average of 31.7 and 32.8 bu., respectively, 

 and spring rye yielded 43.6 bu. in 1912, with a 4-year average of 24.7 bu. 



In a variety test with flax the yields ranged from 19.7 to 30 bu. per acre. 

 Three pk. of flaxseed per acre proved considerably more satisfactory than 2 



or 1 pk. 



Analyses and cooking tests failed to show any difference in the starch con- 

 tent or cooking qualities of irrigated and nonirri gated potatoes. Potatoes were 

 successfully stored in pits covered with manured boards and soil, the shrinkage 

 being from 6.9 to 7.7 per cent. Potatoes yielded from 138.3 to 273.8 bu. per 

 acre^in a variety test, and for an average of 4 years, potatoes planted 4 in. 

 deep gave better results than when planted 6 or 8 in. The results of 2 seasons 

 indicate that about the middle of May is the best time to plant potatoes at 

 Williston. Four-year averages show better results by planting potatoes 12 in. 

 apart in the row than 24 in. In a 4-year average large potatoes planted whole 

 gave the largest yields, but large tubers cut to 2 or 3 eyes per piece produced 

 more economically. A 3-year average showed that potatoes planted 4 in. deep 

 and cultivated yielded better than those planted under 6 in. of straw mulch. 

 In comparing the production of seed potatoes grown by irrigation and those 

 grown by dry farming, there was a slight difference in favor of the seed from 

 irrigation. 



No definite results were obtained in comparing irrigated and nonirrigated 

 grown oats and wheat for seed purposes. Alfalfa seemed to do equally well 

 with or without a nurse crop, and whether irrigated or not. Ample rains pre- 

 vented any irrigation experiments in 1912. and sugar beets yielded heavier than 

 in the 3 previous years, the yields ranging from 17.4 to 24.9 tons per acre and 

 the sugar content from 14.6 to 17.5 per cent. Cereals grown on summer fallow 

 produced better than when grown on corn stubble, or when cereal followed 



cereal. / 



In a tillage experiment, " in spite of the fact that there was more moisture 

 in the soil for the average of the season on the fall plowed plats, in 10 out of 1 

 12 cases the spring plowed plats produced slightly larger yields per acre of | 

 wheat, oats, and corn fodder, while in 11 cases out of 12 the crops grown on 

 summer fallowed land were considerably larger than either fall or spring 

 plowed plats. In several instances the yields were doubled." 



Data on the fluctuation of moisture due to cropping show that "over a 

 period of 4 years in growing corn, wheat, and oats, it is found that in 10 out 

 of 11 plats the percentage of moisture in the soil decreased from spring until 

 fall, ranging from 0.5 to 6.9 per cent on the various plats. On the particular 

 plat which showed an increase of 0.9 per cent of moisture, corn was grown in 

 1912. Taking this plat into consideration there was an average loss of 3.4 per 

 cent on each plat. Every plat (a total of 11) that wns summer fallowed 

 showed an increase ranging from 0.9 to 5.4 per cent in moisture from spring 



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