EXPERIMENTS WITH DEPARTMENT SEEDS, 487 



1st. A large portion of tlie wlieat sent out, probably one-lialf, falls into 

 the liands of persons who do not comprehend the aims of the department 

 in making the distribution, and are incompetent, through ignorance or 

 shiftlessness, or both, to conduct experiments and make reports of even 

 the slightest value to the dei)artment. This estimate does not take 

 account of the large number of those who make no reports. It is notice- 

 able that the reports and experiments of the regular correspondents of 

 the department are, as a rule, much more valuable than the average. 

 An investigation of the records would probably make this very appa- 

 rent. A distribution confined to the regular correspondents, with a few 

 exceptions in favor of farmers whose intelligence and means enable them 

 to appreciate and forward the aims of the department, would bring results 

 of far greater value than a miscellaneous distribution. 



2d. The great want of the South is a rust-proof wheat. Varieties that 

 are generally cultivated in the Northern, Middle, and Western States, 

 because of their productiveness, and the quality of the grain are gen- 

 erally unreliable in the South. It is almost certain that wheat-growing 

 cannot be made to pay in the cotton States. 



3d. The prairies need a winter wheat that will not winter-kill. 



4th. The most notable success has been on the Pacific slope, with the 

 Mold Wheats. Xext come the SUver Chaff in several States, and the 

 Improved Fife in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and generally where winter 

 wheat fails 



OATS. 



Illinois. — Whitesides County: From 4 quarts Board of Trade sown 

 on 8 rods of land 5 bushels were harvested. " Very fine. " 



Indiana. — Bartholomew, Delaware, Marion, and Posey Counties re- 

 port favorably on Board of Trade oats. Yield from 35 to 62 bushels 

 per acre. "Much better than other oats." "Free of rustj stand up 

 well 5 ripen ten days earlier than other oats." 



loica. — Cherokee, Smith, and Washington Counties report heavy 

 yields of Board of Trade oats. " Common oats yield about 20 bushels 

 per acre." " Straw coarse and very strong. Eecommend these oats be- 

 yond all others." 



Kentucky. — Butler, Clinton, and Todd Counties give good reports on 

 Board of Trade oats. Yield 40 bushels per acre. Quality good. 



Michigan. — Genesee and Huron Counties : Board of Trade — " Excel- 

 lent." " Full 15 per cent, better than Norway on same soil." 



Minnesota. — Eejports from several counties on Board of Trade. AH 

 very favorable. 



Missouri. — Board of Trade fi:om 46 to 53 bushels per acre. " Take 

 less time to mature and yield more than any other, and better in every 

 respect." " Stalk stiff, not liable to lodge." 



Neio Hampshire. — Board of Trade — Sullivan County — 6 bushels from 

 4 quarts sown. Weighed 37 pounds to the bushel ; grew taller than na- 

 tive oats, and were ten days earlier. 



New Jersey. — Mercer County : Board of Trade — " Growth vigorous. 

 Weight 36 pounds per bushel. An acquisition." 



Neui Yorlc. — Eeports from Allegany, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Otsego, 

 and Wayne Counties on Board of Trade oats all favorable. Weight 38 

 to 40 pounds per bushel. " Free from rust and not damaged by insects." 

 " Straw bright-yellow, free from rust, while other varieties were both 

 rusty and smutty." 



Oregon. — Linn County : Board of Trade — " Large, heavy grain, weigh- 

 ing 42 pounds to the bushel." 



