32 . MAINE AGRICUI.TURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



purposes. It is believed that the work of the past season has 

 brought about a still further imiDrovement in this corn. Owing 

 to the unsatisfactory season this year it is desired to test this 

 corn another year before it is put in the hands of the farmers. 



Winter Wheat. 



The possibility of winter wheat becoming a grain crop in 

 Maine has often been discussed, and a few records of experi- 

 ments with this cereal in this state have been found. Another 

 winter grain, namely winter rye, is used much more extensively 

 now than a few years ago as a green food for stock. and also 

 a.' a crop for plowing under to increase the humus content of 

 the soil. In order to determine the behavior of winter wheat 

 under the climatic conditions of this region a small amount of 

 each of two varieties, one the World's Champion, the otlic 

 Garton's Selected Turkey Red, were tested. These are said to 

 be among the best winter wheats grown in the West. 



On September 5, 1912, these two varieties were sown at 

 Highmoor on separate plots. The seed was dropped in drills 

 at the rate of i 1-2 bushels per acre, and fertilizer, 4-8-7 

 grade, was broadcasted at the rate of 500 lbs. per acre. The 

 growth of winter wheat is similar to that of winter rye. The 

 leaves spread out upon the ground forming a thick covering 

 before snow falls. By September 27 the plants of the World's 

 Champion and the Selected Turkey Red varieties had developed 

 leaves about 6 inches long. Throughout the winter the plants 

 remained green. The plots on which these varieties grew were 

 situated on a slope where very little snow collected. During 

 the greater part of the winter these plants were unprotected and 

 laid fully exposed to the frequent changes from freezing to 

 thawing temperatures. All in all the environmental factors 

 formed a severe test of the hardiness of these varieties. In the 

 spring growth started at an early date and the plants grew 

 rapidly, attaining maturity by the last of July. On August i 

 the crop of each variety was harvested. The grain was well 

 developed, red in color and hard, the straw was stiff, free from 

 rust and of bright appearance. The yield of the two varieties 

 tried out was as follows : The World's Champion yielded at 

 the rate of 30 1-2 bushels of grain and 2,745 lbs. of straw; the 



