FIELD CROPS. 135 



Southern Coast Range Substation {at Paxo Entiles) (pji. .36-41). — Seventy-two peren- 

 nial grasses were tested for their drought resistance, and the growth of the most 

 promising species is l)riefiy described. In 1899, 50 varieties of wheat, including 13 

 Algerian varieties and a nundjer of cross-bred sorts, were under trial. All the Alge- 

 rian wheats yielded above the average and ripened among the earliest. Some of the 

 cross-bred sorts proved valuable. In a test of varieties of wheat for hay a cross 

 between Frame New and Australian gave the heaviest yield and the best quality of 

 hay. Notes are also given on the several varieties of wheat obtained from this Depart- 

 ment. Caiiaigre, Dwarf Essex, and March rape, Bromus inermis, safflower, foxtail 

 furze, and Jersey kale made good growths at this substation; but Egyptian clover, 

 vetches, Turkestan alfalfa, Russian millet, horse beans, lentils, goat rue, Trispabularia, 

 and Lathjirus si/lveslris were not so generally promising. The rye grasses and clovers 

 on trial were nearly all in need of irrigation. Giant rye grass {Ebpnus condensatns) , 

 in 1899, remained green without irrigation until autumn. The results with saltbushes 

 at the substation have been jjreviously noted (E. S. R., 14, p. 653). 



San Joaquin Valley Substation (at Tulare) (pp. 55-61). — ^A large number of salt- 

 bushes have been under test at this substation and all withstood much drought and 

 alkali. Those giving the best results, named in the order of their value, were Atri- 

 ple.v semibaccata, A. pampaTfiin, and Rhagodia spinescens inermis. All varieties of 

 alfalfa gave the best results with irrigation and withstood considerable alkali. Tur- 

 kestan alfalfa grew m<)re compact and produced more foliage than the common form. 

 Species of LafJtgrus, goat rue ( Galega officinalis) , horse beans, lentils, chick peas, and 

 lupines have not generally given good results. Perennial rye grass, l)rome grass, 

 Italian rye grass, and Texas blue grass {Poa arachnifera) were the best grasses under 

 test. ]Most grasses and clovers needed some irrigation. The artichoke ( Cgnara scoly- 

 mus) grew as well in strong alkali as the Australian saltbush. The growth of Tsama 

 or Khama stock melon was much better than that of any other cucurbit, but the 

 alkali in the soil reduced its yield. 



Southern. California Substation {at Pomona) (pp. 83-88). — Notes are given on the 

 growth and value of a large number of field and garden crops. Turkestan alfalfa 

 gave somewhat better results than the common varieties. The yields of carrots 

 W'ere very low, which result is attributed to the effect of alkali. Egyptian varieties 

 of cotton rooted much deeper and outgrew' the American ^-arieties with which they 

 were compared. No definite conclusion as to the value of Egyptian cotton culture 

 in that region has been reached. Bromus unioloides made a much better growth 

 than B. inermis. Soy beans were grown, and early and medium early varieties are 

 recommended. The vetches tried were not a success. The Tsama or Khama stock 

 melon yielded much better than the Kansas stock melon and showed its superiority 

 in drought resistance. 



Field experiments -with farm crops, W. Saunders, J. H. Grisdale, W. T. 

 Macoun, F. T. Shutt, J. Fletcher, R. Robertson, S. A. Bedford, A. Mackay, and 

 T. A. Sharps ( Canada Expt. Farms Rpts. 1902, jjp. 7-45, 81-89, 112-120, 156-160, 

 196-201, 232-249, 279-298, 319-339, 357-373).— The results of the work with field 

 crops at the Canada Experimental Farms in 1902 are reported and discussed. The 

 average results of variety tests carried on in this connection at the different farms 

 with most of the crops here mentioned have been noted from a previous bulletin 

 (E. S. R., 14, p. 751). The data obtained in the A'ariety tests at each of the farms 

 are tabulated in detail, and include a larger number of varieties of the different crops 

 than is given in the bulletin above mentioned. The report for 1901 is noted in 

 E. S. R., 14, p. 130. 



mieat. — At the Central Experiment Farm at Ottawa 20 varieties of winter wheat 

 were tested. The leading varieties were Dawson Golden Chaff, Imperial Amber, 

 and Egyptian Amber, yielding 5Sl, 46, and 45 J bu. per acre, respectively. Ameri- 

 can Bronze, the least productive variety, yielded 28| bu. Spring wheat at Ottawa 

 yielded best when sown at the rate of 1 l)u. per acre on sandy loam and 2^ l)u. per 



