CEREALS ON THE BELLE FOURCHE EXPERIMENT FARM, 37 



RYE. 



Spring rye has not been grown at Newell except in 1908 and the 

 crop was not very successful. Winter rye is considered much 

 more promising. Winter rye was grown from 1913 to 1917, in- 

 clusive. Only one variety, Swedish (Minn. No. 2), C. I. No. 137, 

 has been grown in plats on dry land. In 1913 this was injured at 

 flowering time by hot winds, which caused considerable floret sterility 

 and also before maturity by a hailstorm which shattered much of the 

 grain. The 1914 and 1917 crops were reduced by drought, the 1915 

 crop was slightly injured by rust, and the 1916 crop by both drought 

 and rust. The yields ranged from 5.3 bushels in 1913 to 44.5 bushels 

 per acre in 1915, The 5-year yield is 20.6 bushels per acre. The 

 yield of Swedish winter rye in pounds per acre in comparison with 

 winter wheat and several spring grains is shown in Table XXIX 

 (p. 41). The rye has yielded less than winter wheat, spring wheat, 

 oats, and barley, and is consequently considered a less profitable crop 

 to grow. However, it is hardier and more certain than winter wheat 

 and can be sown later. The greater hardiness of winter rye is 

 shown in figure 8. Rye may be drilled in small grain stubble in the 

 fall, with fair chances of obtaining a crop of grain or hay. 



Two other varieties of winter rye have been grown in nursery 

 experiments. One of these, North Dakota No. 959, is very hardy, 

 but neither this nor the other variety, known as C, I. No. 178, yielded 

 as well as the Swedish variety. 



BUCKWHEAT. 



The growing of buckwheat on dry land was attempted only in 

 1908. No seed was matured. Apparently buckwheat is not adapted 

 to growing under the dry conditions which usually prevail at Newell. 



PROSO. 



Proso,^ or hog millet, is an early maturing millet the seed of which 

 is used for grain. It is best adapted to the northern Great Plains 

 and prairie sections, where it is grown to a limited extent as a catch 

 crop. It is well suited to the climatic conditions in South Dakota. 

 Other spring cereals on the average produce more grain per acre 

 than proso, but in some seasons proso has outyielded all other spring 

 grain crops. It can be sown even as late as July 1 and still mature 

 seed. 



VARIETAL EXPEEIMENTS. 



Varietal experiments with proso were begun in 1908, when a few 

 varieties were grown in plats and several others in rows. From 1909 



' For further information concerning proso, see Farmers' BuUetin 1162, " Proso, or 

 hog millet," by John H. Martin, 15 p., 4 fig. 1920. 



