14 BULLETIISr 398, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT. 



Wheat is the most important grain crop in Montana. For this 

 reason the experiments with this crop have been more extensive 

 than those with any of the other cereals. The experiments at the 

 Judith Basin substation have included plat and nursery tests with 

 both spring and winter wheats. Rate-of-seeding and date-of -seeding 

 experiments with these cereals have also been conducted. 



WINTER WHEAT. 



In 1915 the production of winter wheat in Montana exceeded the 

 production of spring wheat by nearly 3,000,000 bushels. In the 

 Judith Basin winter wheat is grown almost exclusively. In the 

 eastern part of the State winter wheat can be grown only in favorable 

 years. In some years good yields are produced, but there is Hkely 

 to be winterkilling, so that it is not a sure crop. It is not possible to 

 draw any definite hne marking the boundary of the winter-wheat 

 area in the State. At Forsyth, in the eastern part of Rosebud- 

 County, winter wheat can be grown successfully. East of Forsyth 

 it can hardly be recommended, although it has been grown as far 

 east as Glendive. 



Where winter wheat can be grown successfully it yields more than 

 spring wheat. It is thought that the results obtained from the 

 winter-wheat tests at the Judith Basin substation are applicable 

 wherever the crop can be gi-own in the State. 



Varietal Experiments in Field Plats. 

 annual results. 



The varietal experiments with winter wheat at Moccasin have 

 mcluded the varieties and strams that have given the best results in 

 the winter-wheat section of the Great Plains area. The varieties 

 have been grown on fallow ground each year. The plats have been 

 either one-tenth acre or 1 acre. 



In the fall of 1908, 15 varieties and strains of winter wheat were 

 obtained from McPherson, Kans. These were sown September 18, 

 which is too late for the best results in the Judith Basin. Owmg to 

 the late seeding there was considerable winterkilling. Six varieties 

 sown 10 days later winterkilled entirely. In 1909 nine more varieties 

 and strains were obtained from the Nephi (Utah) substation. 



Table X gives the annual and average yields of 24 varieties of 

 winter wheat that have been grown at the Judith Basin substation 

 during periods of varying length in the seven years from 1909 to 

 1915, inclusive. In this table the varieties are grouped according to 

 their relationships. Within the groups they are arranged alpha- 

 betically. 



