WHEAT 215 



Improving Varieties 

 A great deal of attention has been given during recent 

 years to improving Wheat by breeding and selection. 

 Many new varieties of great value have been obtained 

 as well as greatly improved strains of the older varieties. 

 In some extremely valuable work conducted by the 

 Minnesota Experiment Station under the direction of 

 Professor W. M. Hays an increased yield of from two to 

 nearly five bushels of grain per acre was obtained in a 

 very few years. Large heavy kernels are best for seeding, 

 and an interesting machine has lately been devised for sep- 

 arating these from the lighter kernels. The grain is shot 

 from a revolving cylinder in such a way that the centrifu- 

 gal force sends the heaviest grains farther than the others. 



Fungous Diseases 



It is not surprising that so important a crop as wheat, 

 gown from time immemorial in so many parts of the 

 world, should have numerous natural enemies. Para- 

 sitic fungi of several kinds and insects in great variety 

 have found in various parts of the wheat plants favorable 

 opportunities for food and growth. The yearly loss due 

 to these enemies amounts to many millions of dollars, a 

 large proportion of which might be saved by the intelli- 

 gent apphcation of the best agricultural methods. 



Two distinct species of rust fungi attack wheat — the 

 Black Stem Rust and the Orange Leaf Rust. The first 

 is the most destructive, causing a shriveling of the wheat 

 kernels that results in greatly reduced yields. The 

 second is more universal in its distribution, being found 

 in practically every wheat field every year, but it does 

 less damage because it affects kernels less seriously. The 



