256 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



four plots, two of which are in corn, one in oats, and one in clover. 

 Figures nearby indicate that at the Iowa station, during a period of eight 

 years, or two rotations, they secured a total of 294 bushels of corn, 137 

 bushels of oats, and 5.9 tons of clover hay from the average acre, while 

 when the land was in corn eight years continuously, they secured only 

 431.2 bushels of corn. In other words, with prices as they are now, the 

 average acre under rotation produces each year an average of $5 more 

 than the average acre in corn continuously. The soil map is always 

 interesting. It shows the type of soil in each county, and figures above 

 the map give the average amount of plant food in each type. In pans 

 the different kinds of soil are spread out so that they can be felt and 

 compared more carefully as to color and texture. 



An Interesting chart gives the results of investigations into the pros- 

 perity of over 100 Iowa tenants. Those tenants who stay five years or 

 more on a place make an average of .$1,877, as compared with $1,090 for 

 tenants who stay three and four years, and $866 for those who stay one 

 or two years. The tenants who have 1,000 pounds of stock for every 

 four acres make an average of $1,650 a year, while those with 1,000 pounds 

 of stock to twenty acres make $485. That the tenants who have plenty 

 of money invested in stock, machinery, etc., make the most money is 

 indicated by the chart figures, which give an average return of $2,053 

 to the average tenant with more than $5,000 invested in farming, while 

 tenants with $1,000 to $3,000 averaged only $834 per year. Evidently the 

 tenants who make the most money are those w^ho stay on one place for 

 many years in succession, who keep 1,000 pounds of stock to every four 

 or five acres, and who have at least $5,000 invested in stock, machinery, 

 etc. 



At the Iowa station they have tried for many years past to determine 

 the best varieties of small grains. Among the oats varieties, according 

 to the exhibit on the east side of the college building, Silver Mine and 

 Kherson have proved to be the two best, until a short time ago, when 

 a new variety known as the White Kherson came into the lead with an 

 average yield of 70 bushels per acre. This White Kherson was originated 

 at the Iowa station by picking out a white sport of the yellow Kherson 

 and breeding from it. Samples of these different varieties are on exhibit, 

 together with information concerning the time of ripening, liability to 

 lodge, etc. Among the varieties of barley, the Caucasion, Oderbrucker, 

 and Manchuria are at the head of the list. Samples of these barleys are 

 on exhibit together with information concerning time of ripening, etc. 

 The Turkey Red, Kharkov, and Red Cross have ranked as the highest 

 yielding varieties of winter wheat, until a new variety was recently 

 originated at the Iowa station — known as No. 404 — which has averaged 

 four bushels per acre higher than the Turkey Red. 



