li'^O) FIELD CROPS. 737 



J6, 17, 26-29, 46-49).— The progress of work along the same general lines as 

 note<l heretofore (E. S. R., 40, p. 730) is reported for the year ended June 30 

 1919. 



Winter wheat varieties tested dnriiig a 5-.vear period showed extreme ranges 

 from 2.1 f) to 2.0 i)or rent in nitrogen content, while tlie average annual varia- 

 tion of farmers' samples ranged from 1.5 to 2.32 per cent. During a 4-year period 

 with spring wheats, an extreme range from 2.23 to 3.13 per cent of nitrogen 

 was noted ; the farmers' .samples from the same locality having a variation of 

 from 1.73 to 2.5 i)er cent of nitrogen. The data showed tendencies of a large 

 .annual precipitation to favor higher nitrogen percentages in winter wheat; 

 lower aimual precipitation to he conducive to higher percentage in spring wheat; 

 and good tillage to favor a higher nitrogen content generally. 



Ruddy, Hybrid 12S, Turkey Red. and Bluestem were outstanding in the wheat 

 variety tests, with respective average yields for iniS of 22.07, 23.09, 25.45, and 

 22.89 bu. per acre, and for the period 1914-191S, 44.2, 30.0, 37.3. and 38.9 bu. 

 per acre. Because of the inferior milling quality of Ruddy, Hybrid 128 was 

 considered to be a more desirable wheat, especially for the Palouse region. The 

 oat varieties. Banner and Abundance, and two coast spring barleys, California 

 and Beldi, produced the highest yields both in 1918 and for the average of the 

 5-year period 1914-1918. Wisconsin, a winter barley, led in yields in 1918. 

 The early, small-seeded varieties of field peas produced a larger yield than 

 the late varieties. Bangalia making an average of 20.7 bu. per acre for a 7-year 

 period. Carrots, with 28.3 tons per acre, made a larger return than any other 

 root crop. 



The use of a nurse crop of wheat or barley in, starting alfalfa resulted in a 

 greater total yield of hay the first year after seeding, but the chances of securing 

 a stand and subsequent growth of alfalfa and red clover were reduced. 



Cultivation was found to increase the yield of winter wheat 6.8 per cent and 

 spring wheat 2.7 per cent in 1918 ; for a 4-year period an average increase of 

 15.1 per cent for winter wheat and a decrease of 2.8 per cent in spring wheat 

 yields were noted. Wheat seeded in rows 18, 12, and 6 in. apart yielded in the 

 increasing order named. 



A- study of inheritance of varietal diaracters indicated that there are 

 multiple factors for sunit resistance in different wheat varieties, which are 

 inheritable independently and with cumulative effect. It was noted that beards 

 were recessive to awnlessness in a simple Medelian ratio, except where either 

 Turkey or Red Russian was one of the parents, in which case there were but 

 one-half as many bearded segregates as in other crosses. In several crosses of 

 \\inter and .spring wheats and spring barley, the Fj ripened late and the Fj 

 gave a 1 : 2 : 1 ratio of normal spring plants, plants ripening late, and plants that 

 did not head out. The plants that ripened late were proved to he heterozygous 

 for the winter habit. When crossed with certain other normal varieties, 

 Marquis, Baart, and Kubanka all produced a certain percentage of dwarf 

 plants. Dwarfness .seemed to be a.s.sociated with late ripening and was thought 

 probably linked in some degree to winter habit. 



In a season said to be extremely unfavorable for crop production at the 

 Adams Substation, Turkey Red (Washington 326) proved most drought resist- 

 ant and was best in yield and quality in tests conducted in cooperation with the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture. Early Baiirt (Washington 018) was best 

 among spring wheats, yielding 35 per cent better than Bluestem. Field peas 

 did not compare favorably with wheat, making but 5.3 bu. per acre as compared 

 with 6.8 bu. from the best winter wheat variety. In a depth-of-.se*^lirig test for 

 winter wheat, depths of 1, 2.5, and 4 in. gave respective stands of 237.000, 



