CEREALS UNDER IRRIGATION 431 



the Nevada Experiment Station, 2 irrigations gave an 

 acre-yield of 46.1 bushels, but an acre-foot yield of 72.4 

 bushels. 



466. Seeding. All seeding should be done with 

 the drill. On nearly level land, the drilling should be 

 done in the same direction as the slope, to aid in directing 

 the water. On hill sides, the drill rows should be at right 

 angles to the slope, so as to check the water. Winter 

 wheat is sown at 4 to 6 pecks an acre, and spring wheat at 

 6 to 8 pecks an acre. Oats should be sown at 2| to 3 

 bushels an acre, and barley at about 1^ to 2 bushels an 

 acre. The times of seeding of different cereals in the 

 latitude of Wyoming are about as follows : winter 

 wheat the first week of September, spring wheat at the 

 end of March or as early as possible, oats after April 10, 

 and barley about the same time as oats. 



467. Wheat. Winter wheat, because of its longer 

 period of growth, does not appear to fit in with irrigation 

 farming so well as the spring grains. Prompt seeding is 

 delayed by necessary attention to preceding crops. Hard 

 wheats are not well adapted for irrigation, as the abun- 

 dance of water softens them, and durum wheats should 

 never be irrigated. Defiance, Sonora, Australian White, 

 Palouse Bluestem, and the Club wheats are good spring 

 wheats for irrigation. If the soil forms a surface crust, it 

 may be an advantage to harrow wheat until it is 4 to 5 

 inches high. Wheat should not be irrigated until the con- 

 dition of the soil shows a need for water, but irrigation 

 should not be delayed longer than the soft dough stage. 

 The quantities of water to be applied to wheat will de- 

 pend somewhat upon the purpose for which it is intended. 

 An increase in the quantity of water will increase the 

 percentage of straw and decrease the percentage of grain. 



