328 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Report of the experimentalist, C. A. Zavitz {Ontario Agr. Col. 

 and Expt. Farm Upt. 1899, pj?. 101-129). — The experiments here 

 reported consist larg-eW of variety tests and are in continuation of the 

 work reported in 1898 (E. S. R., 11, p. 'd'2'S). The work recorded 

 covers experiments with oats, winter and spring wheat, barle}'^, rye, 

 buckwheat, Indian corn, teosinte, grasses, millet, sachaline, prickly 

 comfrey, spurry, yarrow, potatoes, field roots, chicory, rape, kale, 

 cabbage, white mustard, field peas, cowpeas, grass peas, Egyptian 

 peas, Latkyrus sylvmtris, field beans, soj^ beans, horse beans, velvet 

 beans, clover, alfalfa, sanfoin, vetch, lupines, lentils, serradella, pea- 

 nuts, iiax, hemp, ramie, chufas, pumpkins, squashes, and sunflowers. 



The Joanette heads the list as regards 3^ield of oats. It is a black 

 variety, possessing a very short straw, suitable for growing onlj^ on 

 lands which naturally produce a large amount of straw. It stools 

 abundantly and should not be seeded at a rate greater than 1 pecks per 

 acre. The crop should be cut while somewhat green to avoid shelling. 

 AYhite Siberian stands next on the list. It is the most extensively 

 grown and popular oat in Ontario, and has made the highest average 

 record of all the oats grown in cooperative tests for 7 years. 



In the fall of 1898, 87 varieties of winter wheat were sown at the 

 station. Many of the varieties winter-killed. The hardiest varieties 

 were Tasmania Red, Red Velvet Chafi', Red Wonder, Prize Taker, 

 Standard, Soules, Siberian, Dawson Golden Chaff, Pride of Genessee, 

 and Early Arcadian, mentioned in the decreasing order of merit. 

 Dawson Golden Chaff has given the largest yield of 70 varieties tested 

 for 5 years, with Early Genessee Giant a close rival. These, with the 

 American Bronze, possessed the stiffest straw of the large j'ielders. 

 Winter wheat that does not lodge until cut has produced a crop more 

 than double the value of the lodged grain. Large, plump grains have 

 given better results for seeding than those which were small, shrunken, 

 or broken. As catch crops preceding winter wheat, peas have given 

 the best results and buckwheat the poorest. The largest yield of 

 grain and the best quality of seed have been obtained by allowing the 

 grain to ripen full v. Copper sulphate and hot water treatment have 

 been found effective in combating stinking smut. 



The trials of common varieties of spring wheat show greatest 3^ields 

 from Red Fife, Herison Bearded, Saxonka, and Wollman Fife. Spring 

 wheat with a solid straw has been tested and some varieties have 

 exceeded in yields the common kinds. By far the largest jdeld in the 

 solid straw varieties was given b\' AYild Goose, a hard wheat yielding 

 a yellow flour. During the last 3 years there has arisen a demand 

 for this wheat for shipment to Italy for manufacturing macaroni, so 

 that at present it connnands a higher price than the finer varieties. 



In tests of 200 varieties of corn grown at the station during the past 

 3 years Mammoth Cuban and Mastodon Dent have been found well 



