58 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. v 



leaves, and a good many stalks were cut down by the "fly;" no 

 smut, but ripened unevenly. 



Missouri Experimeni Station: Reports the Crimean a coarse 

 wheat, mostly winter-killed. The plants saved made a grand head 

 to look upon — long, full, and evidently very prolific, but a large, 

 coarse wheat. The Indian and Egyptian wheat all winter-killed. 

 The Diehl Mediterranean stood the winter well and gave a good berry, 

 but ripened late. The Genoese was a failure, giving a very poor i-e- 

 turn. The McGliee White gave a moderate yield of a most beautiful 

 wheat, of light color, with a glazed or pearly luster. Ripened June 16. 



Nebraska, Pawnee Cou7ity : The Sheriff wheat winter-killed badly. 



Neiv York Experiment Station: Diehl Mediterranean is well 

 adapted to this climate. Martin's Amber is first-class. Genoese, 

 White Crimean, and Egyptian are failures as winter varieties and of 

 no value as spring varieties, the grain not maturing sufficiently. The 

 last is not the true Egyptian wheat {Triticum vulgar^e, var. coin- 

 positum). This variety has a simple panicle; the true Egyptian 

 wheat, as usually understood, has a composite head, according to all 

 authorities. 



Pennsylvania State College: Reports eight varieties sown side by 

 side. From observation taken October 31, 1885, the White Crimean, 

 Genoese, and Egyptian were doing excellently. The Indian did not 

 come up well. All the imported varieties winter-killed. The expos- 

 ure was somewhat exceptional, it is true; nevertheless they seem too 

 delicate for our winters here. At the same date (October 31) it was 

 noted that the McGhee and Early Oakley had a good, deep color, and 

 were well advanced. The Diehl Mediterranean had an excellent color, 

 was well stooled, and taller than either of the other American varie- 

 ties. Martin's Amber was inferior in color, and not very well stooled. 

 The final height attained by all these varieties was about 4-^ feet. 

 The straw seemed nearly alike in stiffness. The Diehl Mediterranean 

 was the only one bearded. The yield from one quart of seed was: 

 McGhee, 32 pounds; Extra-Early Oakley, 22 pounds; Diehl Mediter- 

 ranean, 60 pounds; Martin's Amber, 13 ounces. All suffered consid- 

 erably from the ' ' fly." We are trying the first three American varie- 

 ties again. 



South Carolina Experiment Station: Reports the Extra-Early 

 Oakley a very early variety- yielded an excellent crop; an admirable 

 variety for this latitude, and much valued. Yielded about 20 bush- 

 els per acre. McGhee's White — another excellent variety, a week 

 later than the Oakley, yielded well; a good Southern wheat. The 

 Diehl Mediterranean — an excellent bearded variety^ rather fate, but 

 made a fine yield. The Four-Rowed Sheriff — too late for this lati- 

 tude. The Egyptian, Crimean, and Indian varieties were all killed 

 by cold. Martin's Amber was about half killed; yield unsatisfactory. 

 These varieties were all drilled and cultivated; all fertilized alike 

 and closely observed. 



Virginia, Hampton School : The Red Mediterranean seems to be 

 the only wheat that is at all sure here. 



REPORTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS. 



ALABAMA. 



Grasses and forage plants: Grasses are very little grown in Northern Alabama, 

 but we badly need something that will afford good ])asture. Crab-grass grows in 

 abundance, and makes excellent hay. Alfalfa does well, but very httle is planted. 



