Breeding Experiments at\ the Minnesota Station. 85 



stocks stood 24 inches tall, while the four fiber varieties 

 stood 35 inches tall, and the four seed varieties stood 

 23 inches tall. It is expected that half the increase in 

 yield of seed will persist on the farms of the Northwest, 

 and that the full gain in length of straw will be a per- 

 manent gain in lengthening the fiber in this climate, 

 which is too hot and dry to produce long line fiber from 

 ordinary flax. 



Millets were represented by over 5,000 nursery 

 plants, 4x4 inches apart. The millets are not as easy 

 to breed as many other crops, but some good varieties 

 have been increased in quantity sufficient for field tests. 



In the oat nursery there were 16,000 plants 4x4 

 inches apart, and a large number have been increased 

 for planting in field two plots and in 1903 these made 

 a most favorable showing. Among these are numerous 

 hybrids, some of which are being especially bred to 

 stand erect on the richly manured fields of the stock 

 farm. Many farmers are constantly seeking oats with 

 stiff er straw and it is hoped that some new varieties 

 now being tested will continue their present showing of 

 great strength combined with superior quality and 

 yield of grain. 



Of winter rye 36,000 plants in nursery hills, 4x4 

 inches apart, show a good beginning for new varieties. 

 Rye is nearly hardy, and besides working for hardi- 

 ness especial stress is laid on increasing the yield. Rye 

 is freely open-poll enated and the plans for breeding it 

 are being radically revised. 



Twelve thousand sorghum plants put in late did not 

 ripen in 1902 and the old seed was used again in 1903 

 with similarly discouraging results.' 



Soy beans were the 'most beautiful crop in the nur- 

 sery in 1902. The plants, 18x18 inches apart, standing 

 over two feet tall in nursery centgener plots, 15 feet 

 square, made a very pretty appearance. The frost cut 

 most of them both in 1902 and 1903, though in previous 

 years substantial gains in yield were being secured. 

 The results of several years' work with soy beans give 



