17 



solution of formaldehyde in water and the smut balls skimmed VIew - 

 off (formalin treatment), or dipped in a solution or copper sul- 

 phate in water. The loose smut can not be prevented by dis- 

 infecting the surface of the seed, but a modified hot-water 

 treatment, consisting of soaking the seed for at least 4 and not 

 over 6 hours in cold water, then draining it and placing it for 

 10 minutes in water at 129 F. (never above 131 F.) may be 

 applied. This modified treatment is not well adapted to 

 large quantities of seed. 



Chinch bugs are destroyed by burning them in their places 

 of hibernation and by plowing and harrowing them under 

 after they have occupied decoy strips. The main factors in 

 the control of the Hessian fly are good seed, a well-prepared 

 and fertile soil, and, in the case of winter wheat, sowing after 

 most of the fall brood has disappeared. Spring wheat, how- 

 ever, should be sown as early as possible. 



Since the date of safely sowing winter wheat for the escape 

 of the crop generally from Hessian fly varies greatly in the dif- 

 ferent wheat sections of the United States and even in different 

 localities in a single State, and also since the proper date for 

 a single locality differs from year to year, the county agent 

 should correspond regarding this subject with the entomolo- 

 gist at the agricultural college or experiment station or with 

 the Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of 

 Agriculture, to obtain specific information for his particular 



county. 



PRODUCTION, YIELDS, AND STATISTICS. 



The average yield of wheat for the years 1905-1914, inclu- 

 sive, in different countries was as follows: Belgium 36.4, 

 United Kingdom 33.4, Germany 30.7, Austria 20.2, France 

 20.1, Hungary 18.1, United States 14.8, and Russia 9.8 bushels 

 per acre. In 1915, the United States produced 673,947,000 

 bushels of winter wheat on 41,308,000 acres, the average yield 

 being 16.3 bushels per acre; and of spring wheat 351,854,000 

 bushels on 19,161,000 acres, the average production being 18.4 

 bushels per acre. This was the largest wheat crop on record 

 and the largest yield ever produced by any one country. In 

 1911, Denmark grew 44.6 bushels per acre, Belgium 39.5 

 bushels, the Netherlands 38.7 bushels, Ireland 36.8 bushels, 

 and Great Britain 32.9 bushels. These average yields indicate 

 that a large number of growers raise 40, 50, and even 60 

 bushels to the acre. A comparison of the average yields in 

 the United States and these countries, together with the soil 

 and climatic conditions prevailing here and abroad, would 



