CEREAL INVESTIGATIONS AT THE NEPHI SUBSTATION. 35 



than where the stand was thin. When the plants were not crowded, 

 the early growth of the culms was lateral and the plants would spread 

 out over considerable space. Later, as the plants approached matur- 

 ity, the position of the culms would be such as to give the row the 

 appearance of having a much thicker stand than actually existed. 



The average number of culms per plant seldom exceeded 25. 

 Individual plants would sometimes have as many as 40 culms. This 

 was true only where the plant occupied an isolated position in the 

 row. These observations may aid in explaining the fact, previously 

 noted in connection with the plat tests, that the number of plants 

 to the acre is not a dependable criterion in estimating the yield of a 

 cereal variety. 



The average yields of the head rows give the varieties about the 

 same rank as that which they occupied in the plat tests shown in 

 the first part of Table VIII. The hard winter wheats were among 

 the leading wheat varieties in the nursery, emphasizing more strongly 

 their value as dry-land crops in the Mountain States. 



SPRING CEREAL HEAD ROWS. 



It was observed that the percentage of germination of the spring 

 cereals generally was high. A much better stand was obtained in 

 these than in the winter varieties, but the yields obtained were very 

 low in comparison. This can be accounted for by the fact that the 

 drought of the summer months has a very serious effect on the spring 

 varieties, as previously noted in connection with the plat experiments. 

 Then, too, though their percentage of germination was high, the spring 

 varieties have a very low tillering power and seldom average more 

 than five heads to the plant. Owing to the effect of the summer 

 drought, the heads are short and the number of kernels per head is 

 small. 



Another observation made on spring varieties of cereals in the 

 nursery is of interest. The plants were very poorly established in 

 the soil. They apparently had a very limited root development, 

 which often failed to support them during vigorous movements 

 caused by exceptional gusts of wind. Frequently a number of 

 plants in each row would be found completely uprooted and lying 

 flat upon the ground. 



INCREASE BOWS. 



The bulk seed of the most promising head rows was planted in 

 rows 121 feet long. These rows are known as " increase" rows, 

 and are designed to increase the pedigreed seed from the head rows 

 sufficiently for sowing plats where any improvement due to selection 

 can be measured. 



The rows were seeded with the drill used in seeding plats. Each 

 cup of the drill was filled with the pure seed from a head-row selection. 



