WHEAT 29 



CHAPTER III 

 SEED IMPROVEMENT 



ADAPTATION OF SEED 



Planting good, pure seed of well bred wheat of 

 the type or variety best adapted to the local con- 

 ditions is one of the most important factors in 

 successful wheat culture. It is well for the grower 

 to keep in touch with the state experiment stations 

 where the varieties are being continually tested 

 and improved in order to secure the best seed of 

 the best variety for his state or locality. 



The western plains south of the Dakotas is the 

 land of the hard red winter wheat, and the Turkey 

 or bearded type is generally best adapted for 

 growing in this region, but there are different 

 varieties or strains, some of which are superior to 

 others in quality, hardiness and productiveness. 

 The Kharkof (Turkey) wheat has been proved 

 to be one of the best producing varieties at the 

 Kansas experiment station. 



A MONEY CROP 



Wheat is the great "money" crop of a large 

 part of the dry farming area, yet it is not especially 

 a drouth resistant crop. Its success is more 

 largely due to the fact that the crop grows and 

 matures during a part of the year when drouth and 

 hot winds are least apt to prevail. On this account 

 also it makes advantageous use of the moisture 

 stored in the soil by summer tilling and by 



