Small Grains 159 



3. How are the following weeds combated in wheat fields : chess, 

 darnel, cockle, wild garlic, pigeon- weed, wild mustard? 



4. Describe both the hot water and the formalin methods of treat- 

 ing smuts of wheat. Which treatment is used for loose smut ? Which 

 one for stinking smut ? 



5. Describe the grain-bearing portions of the cereals. 



6. What kind of oats should be planted in the South ? Why? 



7. Why is rye cut green when the straw is to be sold for manu- 

 facturing purposes? 



8. Explain the difference between two-rowed and six-rowed barley. 



9. Describe the method of irrigating the rice land in Louisiana. 

 In South Carolina. 



10. What are some of the advantages of buckwheat as a crop? 

 How is buckwheat harvested ? 



EXERCISES 



1. Bushel weight of grain. Fill a peck measure level full of 

 wheat and compute the weight of a bushel. Do the same with the 

 other small grains. How do these weights compare with the pub- 

 lished weights of these grains? The legal weights and measures are 

 generally published in the U. S. Department of Agriculture Yearbook. 



2. Testing seeds of grain. Sprout one hundred seeds of each of 

 the small grains in seed testers and determine the percentage of germi- 

 nation. Do this with several samples from different sources. Study 

 the sprouted seeds and find the caulicle and the plumule. How do the 

 seeds like wheat and rye that are free when threshed differ in sprouting 

 from barley and oats? 



3. Smut of grains. In a wheat or an oat field place a hoop or rec- 

 tangular frame over a section of the growing grain, count the plants, 

 and if any are smutted, determine the percentage. Secure wheat and 

 oats from farmers and in the school laboratory practice the two 

 methods of smut treatment with wheat and the formalin treatment 

 with oats. 



4. Examination of grain heads. Secure mature heads of all of the 

 different kinds of grain grown in the vicinity and when dry mount them 

 on cardboard by pasting narrow strips of paper across the stems. 

 During the school year examine each kind of grain carefully and study 

 the botanical characters as previously given. Make drawings of each 

 of the small grains. 



5. Tillering of grain plants. In a field of small grain study the till- 

 ering of the plants. Notice that several plants grow from a seed. Com- 



