CEREAL EXPERIMENTS AT DICKINSON, N. DAK. 13 



Rather complete data are taken upon the behavior of the different 

 varieties. The quantity of grain actually sown upon the plat is de- 

 termined by weighing the grain placed in the drill and that taken 

 out after the plat is seeded. The difference in the two weighings 

 is the actual quantity of grain sown. After the plants emerge and 

 when it is certain no more will appear, the number of thousand plants 

 to the acre is determined for each variety. 1 Notes on the date of 

 planting, emergence, heading, ripening, and harvesting each variety 

 are also taken. At harvest time a small but representative sample of 

 the grain from each plat is pulled and taken to the laboratory for 

 further study. 



A small separator with an 18-inch cylinder is used in thrashing. 

 The total weight of the crop and the weight of the thrashed grain 

 from each plat are obtained. The weighings are made at the thrash- 

 ing machine, one just before and the other immediately after the 

 grain is thrashed. If the separator does not deliver the grain free 

 from chaff and dirt, it is cleaned and reweighed. The weight of the 

 grain is subtracted from the total weight of the crop, to determine the 

 weight of the straw and chaff. The weight of grain and the weight 

 of straw per plat are multiplied by the proper factor, to determine 

 the }deld in pounds per acre. The weight of grain divided by the 

 standard weight per bushel of the crop gives the actual yield of grain 

 to the acre. In the laboratory a study is made of the sample of grain 

 taken from each plat. The percentage of rust infection, if any, is 

 noted. The average height, head length, culms per plant, heads per 

 plant, and grains per head of 10 plants from each plat are recorded. 

 Small samples of grain of a portion of the wheat varieties are sent 

 to the North Dakota Agricultural College, where milling and baking 

 tests are made. 



WHEAT. 



It is well known that the northern Great Plains area is primarily 

 a spring- wheat region. Practically no winter wheat is grown in west- 

 ern North Dakota. Farmers have many times planted small areas 

 to winter wheat only to have it killed during the winter or spring 

 by freezing. The varietal tests of this crop at Dickinson have been 

 confined almost entirely to the spring wheats. 



Spring Wheat. 



The annual and average yields in bushels per acre obtained in 

 varietal tests with spring wheat at Dickinson from 1907 to 1913 are 

 given in Table VI. The 1912 crop was entirely destroyed by hail; 

 hence, the results of only six years are given. Check plats have been 

 used since 1908. 



1 For an explanation of the method used in making these determinations, see p. 22. 



