38 



BULLETIN 33, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



winter of 1912-13 at Dickinson, which reduced their yield per acre. 

 If later trials show them to be more hardy, they will probably sup- 

 plant the ordinary rye, as they are far superior in quality. At pres- 

 ent North Dakota No. 959 (C. I. No. 175) winter rye is recommended. 



OTHER CEREALS. 



Varietal tests with flax, proso, and grain sorghum have been con- 

 ducted in the nursery. Primost flax (Minn. No. 25; C. I. No. 12) 

 and Black Voronezh proso (C. I. No. 27) have also been grown in 

 plat tests. A number of varieties of grain sorghums have been 

 tested at Dickinson, but in only two years (1909 and 1913) have any 

 of the varieties matured seed. In those two years only the early- 

 maturing Manchu Brown kaoliang (C. I. No. 261) entirely ripened. 

 The forage growth of the kaoliang is about half that of corn. Not 

 until earlier varieties than any yet known are produced will this 

 grain-sorghum crop be a profitable one for western North Dakota. 



NURSERY EXPERIMENTS. 



The nursery experiments at Dickinson during 1908 to 1913, in- 

 clusive, afforded an opportunity for growing a larger number of 

 varieties and selections than could be included in the plat experi- 

 ments. The nursery tests were confined to short rows. These rows 

 Avere 12 inches apart, the length varying according to the plan of 

 each test. In most of the experiments equal weighed quantities of 

 seed were sown by hand in each row. In some of the experiments a 

 definite number of seeds were sow T n in each row, placed at definite 

 distances in the row. 



The nursery experiments comprise four main groups: (1) Varietal 

 tests (fig. 7) ; (2) pure-line selections, including head rows and in- 

 crease rows; (3) crosses; and (4) miscellaneous, including date, 

 rate, and depth of planting tests, seed treatment, etc. Table XX 

 shows the number of plantings each year in the different lines of 

 work. Each of these groups will be discussed separately. 



Table XX. — Number of plantings in the cereal nursery at Dickinson, V. Dak., 

 from WOS to 1913, inclusive. 



Cereal plantings. 



190S 



1909 



1910 



1911 



1912 



1913 



Spring nursery: 



211 



231 



3 



63 



261 



264 



40 



387 

 340 

 164 

 65 



100 



372 

 205 

 287 

 102 



370 

 226 



438 



414 



76 



22 



10 

 297 

 429 



481 





489 





8 



Miscellaneous 



Fall nursery: 



180 

 15 



Pure-line selections 





335 









116 











5 

















Total 



311 



315 



1,063 



1,562 



1,686 



1,629 



