150 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



varieties is much more profitable than the normal planting of carly- 

 iiiatiiring varieties. By much earlier than normal planting it ha:^ 

 been found that larger growing varieties can be profitably grown for 

 ensilage in northern localities and much better yields secured than 

 by planting the smaller native varieties at the usual corn-planting 

 dale. In southern localities, by planting small short-season varietien 

 earlier than normal much earlier maturity can be secured, thus af- 

 fording a supply of corn for very early feeding. Many rather soft 

 varieties produce sound corn when planted early in southern locali-. 

 ties, but rot badly when planted late. 



Investigations of cultural methods have shown that in localities 

 where moisture is a limiting factor, the practice of planting in alter- 

 nate rows short and long season varieties has increased yields as 

 compared with either variety in pure plantings. It has also been 

 observed that varieties differ in their ability to adapt themselves 

 and their grain production to varying stands. When given in- 

 creased spacing prolific varieties have shown ability to increase their 

 grain production much more satisfactorily^ than liave the single- 

 ear varieties. This is an important factor in ordinary planting where 

 missing places are frequent. In sections to which prolific varieties 

 are adapted, they are more desirable than single-ear varieties be- 

 cause of their ability to make up b}^ increased grain production de- 

 ficiencies in stand. 



Crossbreeding and experiments with .unusual types of corn from 

 different parts of the world promise interesting and profitable re- 

 sults. 



Progress is being made in isolating uniform types within a variety. 

 It has been found that so-called varieties of corn are largely con- 

 glomerates of many distinct types. In arriving at basic facts in 

 breeding work it is necessar}^ that these iniiform types be segregated. 



PLANT BREEDING. 



WHEAT. 



Wheat-breeding investigations in cooperation with the North Da- 

 kota Agricultural Experiment Station have resulted in the produc- 

 tion of the Kota variety by selection from a mixture of Russian 

 wheat. This is a hard red spring common wheat, both early and pro- 

 ductive, with the additional valuable quality of high resistance to 

 black stem rust. Preliminary milling experiments indicate that it 

 is of good milling quality also. It Avill be increased for commercial 

 growing and also will be used as a basis for further breeding. 



Acme, a variety of durum wheat developed by selection from the 

 Kubanka in cooperation Avith the South Dakota Experiment Station, 

 is not only a high-jdelding variety, but shows a high degree of re- 

 sistance to black-stem rust. It has now been introduced into com- 

 mercial cultivation in South Dakota. 



In cooperation with the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station 

 in New York, there have been developed several superior wheat selec- 

 tions, both white kerneled and red kerneled. The work has pro- 

 gressed to the point where these selections are now being distributed 

 to selected cooperating farmers in those sections of New York to 

 which they are adapted. 



