CEREAL INVESTIGATIONS AT THE NEPHI SUBSTATION. 



33 



7 to 12 inches apart, according to the plan of each test. In most of 

 the experiments the actual number of seeds planted in each row was 

 known and these were placed at definite distances in the row. Under 

 these conditions many accurate determinations were made and a 

 great number of data of significance in a study of cereal varieties 

 were noted. 



The nursery experiments comprised three main groups: (1) 

 Varietal tests (fig. 8) including small-gram head rows, increase rows, 

 and minor cereals; (2) tests of the value of different sizes of seed; and 

 (3) tests of different seed treatments for smut. The largest of the 

 three groups was that containing the head rows. Of these there 

 were 300 to 600 each year, while there were never more than 100 



Fig. 8. — Winter cereal nursery at the Nephi substation in 1912, Looking west; summer fallow in the 

 foreground; increase rows at left; head rows in center marked by white stakes; miscellaneous cereals 

 at right. In the background is the low range separating Juab Valley from Dog Valley. 



increase or miscellaneous rows. Each of the groups will be reviewed 

 separately, and the data most pertinent at this time will be pre- 

 sented. 



HEAD ROWS. 



The head-row tests have been made to furnish pure-line selections 

 of the cereal varieties under test at Nephi. In 1908 plants typical 

 of each variety were selected from the plats of that year. Each plant 

 was noted with respect to its height, number of culms and heads, 

 uniformity of culm length, the average length of heads, average num- 

 ber of kernels to the head, seed-holding power, and the total weight of 

 the grain. At least 2 heads of tills typical plant were selected and 

 used as parent heads in making the subsequent head-row sowings. 



