236 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. VI, No. 6 



EFFECT OF RATE OF SEEDING ON STERILITY OF SPIKELETS 



It was found (see Table I) that the actual number of sterile spikelets 

 per spike (average of 25 spikes) ranged from 1.84, the lowest, to 5.52, 

 the highest, for varieties in drills; and in hills, from 0.28 sterile 

 spikelets, the lowest, to 3.76, the highest. The percentage of sterile 

 spikelets per average spike in drill rows ranged from 11.5 per cent, the 

 lowest, to 36 per cent, the highest. In hills the percentage of sterile 

 spikelets among the varieties ranged from 1.5 per cent to 23.5 per cent. 

 The mean number of sterile spikelets for all varieties in drill rows was 

 3.47; in hills, 1.73. The mean percentage of sterile spikelets for all 

 varieties in drills was 21.8 per cent; in hills, 10 per cent. 



The data indicate that the spacing of the wheat plants has a direct 

 bearing on the number of sterile spikelets. Wljieat planted in hills has 

 more space in which to develop and invariably sends up a greater number 

 of tillers than wheat sown in drills. It has also been observed that the 

 period of maturation is prolonged where the wheat plant has more space. 

 Under these conditions the vegetative activity of the plant is more pro- 

 nounced, as shown by an increased number of culms, broader leaves, and 

 heavier straw. 



Table I. — Number and percentage of sterile spikelets on 25 spikes of bearded and smooth 



varieties of wheat in IQ15 



Variety. 



Bearded 



or 

 smooth. 



Total number 

 of spikelets. 



Number of 

 sterile spikelets. 



Drill. Hill. Drill. Hill. 



Percentage of 

 sterile spikelets. 



Drill. Hill 



Acme 



Acme Bred (Maryland) 



Acme Improved (Maryland) 



Ahrens (Indiana) 



American Banner 



American Bronze 



Babcock (Michigan 07664) 



Bearded Purple Straw 



Bearded Winter (Michigan 9850) . 



Bearded Winter Fife 



Beech wood Hybrid 



Beloglina 



Berkeley 



Berkeley Awnless 



Blue Stem 



Broughton 



Buda Dawson (Michigan 310717). 



Buda Pest 



Canadian Hybrid 



Century 



China 



Clawsons Longberry 



Cooks Brookmont 



Councilman 



Craigs Favorite 



Currells Prolific 



Crimean 



14.92 



13. 12 

 16. 92 

 16. 04 

 17.88 



14. 64 



IS- 

 16. 28 

 18.28 

 15-50 

 15-78 

 16. 12 



14. 12 



15-44 



15. 20 

 14.36 

 15.48 

 17.40 

 15.84 

 17.04 

 17.64 

 13-36 

 15-3 

 15.48 



15-5 

 14.64 



15.80 



15. 08 

 15.68 

 17.92 



16. 92 

 19.96 

 14. 72 

 15.04 

 16.28 

 17.48 

 16. 16 



13-52 



16. 20 



17. 08 



15-44 

 15.2 



14. 80 

 14. 

 15.80 

 16. 24 



15- 



18. 24 



15. 16 

 15-76 

 17.44 

 16. 

 17.28 



3-56 

 2. 96 



3- 04 



2.36 



2. 76 



72 



60 



44 

 76 

 80 



2.84 

 3-76 

 2. 00 

 2. 84 

 2.68 

 3-72 

 3- 04 

 4. 12 



3- 00 



3-48 



3- 



3- 



2. 



3- 

 3- 

 3- 



3-72 

 2.84 

 2.80 

 1.56 

 2. 20 

 2.88 

 2. 96 

 2. 12 

 2. 56 

 2.48 



2.32 

 I. 24 

 I. 64 

 1.80 

 1.48 

 I. 20 



1. 12 

 2.08 



2. 00 

 2. 00 

 1.36 

 I. 76 



1. 12 



2. 04 



23. 69 



19.84 



23-17 



13-94 



17- 



20. 80 



24- 59 

 22. 22 

 23.09 

 20. 79 

 16. 00 

 17.99 

 23-32 

 14. 16 

 18.38 

 17.63 

 25.90 



19-63 

 23.67 

 18.93 

 20. 42 

 19.27 

 24.25 

 17.23 

 22. 99 

 22.39 

 23-77 



23-54 

 18.83 



17-83 

 8.70 



13-53 

 14.48 

 20. 10 

 14.09 

 15-72 

 14. 18 

 10.39 

 13.90 

 13.09 



13-58 

 8.03 

 10.73 

 12. 16 

 10. 22 



7-59 



6.89 



13.26 



10. 96 



13- 19 

 8.26 



10. 09 

 6.86 



11.80 



