3. Control of Smut. 



Treatment % of plants diseased 



Tagged wheat untreated 46.72 



Tagged wheat treated, smut balls floated off 00. 



Tagged wheat treated, smut balls not floated off 4.72 



Clean wheat treated and seeded on soil infested with smut 



spores 32. 11 



The Formalin treatment is a very essential operation and must not be overlooked. 

 Formalin of known quality is imperative. Don't expect too much from 'leftovers' 

 from treatment to treatment. Throw out all leftovers and give the formalin the 

 benefit of the doubt. 



Variety — Let us stand unalterably by Red Fyfe and Marquis. Pioneer may fill 

 a useful place where greater earliness is desired than can be obtained with Marquis. 

 Some of us were deceived into buying Egyptian King in 1915; let us not err in this 

 direction again. Egyptian King will disappoint us in our endeavours just in proportion 

 as it failed in the comparative trials in the Investigation Field, as it shown by the follow- 

 ing table: 



Variety Weight per No. of days Bus. per acre 



bus. maturing 5 years aver. 



Red Fyfe 62 lbs. 120 29.300 



Marquis 63 lbs. 116 29.000 



Pioneer ... 62 lbs. 112 24.248 



Egyptian King 62 lbs. 116 23.936 



Depth of Seeding — We can sow too deep, and we can also sow too shallow for the 

 best development of root and plant. Seeding in the moisture is a safe guide to follow. 

 Four inches, yes three inches is too deep; on the other hand 13^ inches is too shallow. 

 Remember that the greatest root-development takes place between 1% inches and 2 

 inches beneath the surface of the soil. Therefore in a properly prepared seedbed 2}4 

 inches is the depth of seeding that on the average will insure the best development of 

 root and plant and therefore more nearly result in maximum production. 



Rate of Seeding — The rate at which we as grain growers shall seed must depend 

 upon several factors. We quote results obtained on fallow in the Investigation Field: 



Bus. per acre 

 Rate of seeding 2 years average 



1 bus. per acre i 32.833 



\y 2 bus. per acre ' 30.916 



\ z /i bus. per acre 29.625 



2 bus. per acre 29.354 



2Y 2 bus. per acre 28. 133 



These figures indicate that the rate at which we should sow at Saskatoon is 1 bus. 

 per acre. In accepting these data it should be borne in mind that during the past two 

 seasons the rainfall has been lighter than normal; also the additional fact that the 

 seed used was unusually small. 



In deciding therefore upon the rate of seeding let us consider the following factors: 



1. The size of seed used — large seed heavier rate than small seed. 



2. The kind of soil — warm soil less than cold soil. 



3. The preparation of the soil — fallow land will require heavier seeding than 

 second or third crop. 



4. The time of seeding — late seeding may require more seed. 



5. The danger of frost — heavy seeding increases the earliness. . 



6. The danger of drought — light seeding resists drought and is therefore best 

 in dry areas. 



7. The percent and strength of germination. 



68 





