CEREAL CULTIVATION WESTERN AREA 407 



In central Oregon spring wheat should be sown from April 10 

 to May 1, oats from April 20 to May 5, and barley from April 20 

 to May 10. 



From information obtained by the Bureau of Crop Estimates, 

 it appears that the mean date when winter wheat 'seeding becomes 

 general in certain western states is as follows : Montana, Sep- 

 tember 9; Wyoming, September 5; Colorado, September 16; 

 Arizona, November 3; Utah, September 22; Nevada, September 

 29; Washington, September 29; and Oregon, October 15. 



432. Rate of seeding. In the Western area, the 

 optimum rate of seeding all cereals is close to that for the 

 Great Plains, but less than that in the Eastern area. 



For winter wheat in Utah the results of experiments on rate of 

 seeding are somewhat conflicting, one series of trials showing 3 

 pecks to the acre to be the best rate, while another series at Nephi 

 (Cardon, 1915, pp. 30-31) indicates that 4 to 5 pecks is best. No 

 doubt, as in the matter of fall and spring plowing, the experiments 

 are influenced by differences in local conditions. Turkey and 

 Kharkov probably require a little thinner seeding than other winter 

 wheats. 



At Moro, Oregon, dry-farming substation no definite optimum 

 rate of seeding of winter wheat has been found. The proper rate 

 depends upon time of seeding, quantity of soil moisture, and condi- 

 tion of seed-bed ; and varies from 30 to 60 pounds to the acre (420). 

 On the sandy elevated soils of central Oregon, Turkey wheat is 

 sown at 20 to 30 pounds to the acre, spring wheat at 35 to 40 pounds, 

 barley at 50 to 60 pounds, and oats 30 to 40 pounds (vide Scudder, 

 1914, pp. 76-92). 



In the Columbia Basin, the optimum rate for winter wheat ap- 

 pears to be from 35 to 45 pounds, the lower rate being applicable 

 for Turkey and where the rainfall is light, and the higher rate for 

 large-kerneled varieties and where the rainfall is 12 inches or over. 

 Spring wheat seeding should run from 45 to 50 pounds an acre. 

 Durum varieties should be sown at least 10 pounds an acre 

 thicker. Oats probably do best at a rate of 40 to 50 pounds, and 

 emmer at 30 to 40 pounds an acre; winter emmer being sown a 

 little thicker than spring emmer. 



