126 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Wheat.— At the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa a plat on which clover was 

 plowed under in 1901 gave an increase in 1903 of 1 bu. 20 lbs. of grain and 360 lbs. 

 of straw per acre as apparently due to the treatment. The following results were 

 obtained by the chemist in studying the effect of rust on the straw and grain of 

 wheat : 



Analysis of rusU d "/"/ rust-fn < wheat. 



The following crossbred varieties produced at this farm are described for the first 

 time: Early Riga, Downey Riga, Riga, Bishop, and Red Preston. 



At the Manitoba Experimental Farm at Brandon, seed from the largest heads 

 selected fn»m standing grain yielded ^)4 lbs. more per acre than unselected seed. 

 Rusty wheat was cut at intervals of one week and the best results were obtained by 

 cutting in the dough or late milk stage. In a series of experiments with barnyard 

 manure, green manure, and fallow, the largest average yields of grain Avere obtained 

 from the fallow plats. The fresh-manure plats gave larger returns than those 

 treated with rotted manure, and peas were more effective as a green manure than 

 clover. Plowing either 2 in. or 3J in. deep made no appreciable difference in the 

 results. 



( )f different spring varieties grown in a field test on the experimental farm for the 

 Northwest Territories at Indian Head, Huron, a variety obtained by crossing White 

 Fife and Ladoga, was earliest in maturing, requiring 118 days to complete its growth. 

 This variety also led in productiveness, with a yield of 42 bu. 47 lbs. per acre. A 

 comparison of 4 early and 2 late varieties showed that Preston, Stanley, and Huron 

 mature in practically the same number of days. For 4 years fallow produced an 

 average of 11 bu. 46 lbs. per acre more than stubble land. A test with commercial 

 fertilizers for spring wheat at this farm resulted in favor of an application consisting 

 of 200 lbs. of superphosphate No. 1, 100 lbs. of muriate of potash, and 100 lbs. of 

 nitrate of soda per acre, half of the nitrate being applied as a top dressing when the 

 grain was 2 in. high. 



Spelt and emmer. — Ten varieties of spelt and emmer were under test at Ottawa. 

 The best yield of grain per acre, 3,060 lbs., was obtained from single emmer ( Triti- 

 cum monococcum). This grain was only slightly rusted, while the other varieties 

 were more or less seriously injured. At the experimental farm for the maritime 

 provinces at Xappan, spelt gave larger yields than emmer, but a greater proportion of 

 the crop was attacked by rust. These crops are reported as giving satisfactory yields 

 in dry regions and producing a comparatively bright and clean straw. 



<><tts.— Regarding the influence of previous crops on the yield of grain and straw 

 of Banner oats at Ottawa, it was found that the largest yield, 89 bu. of grain, and 

 5,480 lbs. of straw per acre, was obtained where sand vetch was plowed under twice 

 the preceding season. Of the new varieties added this year, which are briefly 

 described, Garton Abundance ranged fourth in yield, and Daubeney and Gold Rain, 

 a yellow sort, ripened early. 



At Brandon an 11-acre field of Banner oats yielded 73 bu. 27 lbs. per acre, and a 

 5-acre field of American Beauty, SI bu. 2 lbs., the weight per bushel being 37 and 38 

 lbs., respectively. In the average results for 4 years with oats grown in field lots at 

 Indian Head, Banner led with a yield of 102 bu. 6 lbs. per acre, being followed by 

 Abundance with 96 bu. 32 lbs. 



