34 BULLETIN 30, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



The length of these heads and the number of kernels each contained 

 were determined. Finally 30 kernels from each head, except when 

 the head contained fewer kernels, were planted in rows 10 feet long 

 and 12 inches apart. The kernels were sown 4 inches apart in the row 

 at the usual time, both in spring and fall. A furrow about 3 inches 

 in depth was first opened with a wheel hoe. Then a board set with 

 wooden pegs 4 inches apart was used to mark the places for the seeds. 

 The seeds were placed by hand, one in each hole left by the pegs. 

 The furrows were then covered with the wheel hoe and a rake. This 

 left the seed from 3 to 4 inches beneath the surface of the ground. 

 From then until the resulting plants were mature their behavior was 

 observed and noted. Data pertaining to the following points were 

 collected: Date of full emergence from the ground, percentage of 

 survival, color, vigor, manner of growth, culms per plant, heads per 

 plant, and height. Then what was believed to be the best plant 

 growing under normal conditions in each row was selected for further 

 propagation. The points considered in making these selections were: 

 Vigor, uniformity of culms, number of heads, and length of heads. 

 After the plant had been selected the remaining plants in the row 

 were harvested and thrashed. The weight of their grain with that 

 of the selected plant gave the total row yield. The mother plant 

 selected was treated in the same manner as the parent plant of the 

 previous year. This procedure has been repeated each year since 

 1908. During that time several selections of more recently introduced 

 varieties have been added to the original number. The nursery at 

 present contains selections of 95 varieties' of winter cereals, including 

 wheat, oats, barley, emmer, and spelt; and 23 varieties of spring 

 cereals, including only oats and durum wheat. In only a few instances 

 are there fewer than two selections of any one variety and in many 

 instances there are more than two selections, sometimes as many 

 as 20. 



From such a large number of head rows, recorded as they are at 

 Nephi, a great mass of data has been accumulated. Not all of these 

 are germane to the purposes of this bulletin. Those which are of 

 interest, however, in connection with the results obtained in the 

 plat tests of the same varieties will be discussed here. 



WINTER CEREAL HEAD ROWS. 



An unexpectedly high percentage of winterkilling has occurred in 

 the winter cereal head rows. The average winter survival has been 

 about 65 per cent. This has varied, of course, with the severity of 

 the winter conditions, and in that respect the rows were affected in 

 practically the same proportion as were the plats. 



The tillering of the plants has varied with the thickness of the 

 stand. Where the stand was thick the plants have grown more erect 



