32 CIRCULAR 421, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



grain produced by White Smyrna make it the variety best adapted 

 to this section of those under trial. In spite of this fact, the acreage 

 of White Smyrna has not increased rapidly. Its ragged appearance 

 in the field creates a prejudice against it. 



FLAX VARIETIES 



Flax varieties were grown in 1930 and 1931. The crop was a com- 

 plete failure in 1931. In 1930 yields were too low to be significant. 



CORN VARIETIES GROWN FOR GRAIN 



Corn varieties were grown for grain production during the years 

 1923-32. There was little to choose from in yield between several of 

 the early varieties of dent corn and some of the flint corns. North- 

 western Dent, Payne White Dent, Falconer, Alta, Gehu Flint, Mercer 

 Flint, and White Flour corn may be depended on to mature every 

 year. Later varieties do not mature on heavy soil like that at 

 Ardmore but do mature on lighter soils within the section. 



Corn varieties do not have the fixed characteristics of small-grain 

 varieties. The date of ripening, height of ear, and many other char- 

 acteristics may be greatly changed by selection. Two strains of the 

 same variety from different localities may exhibit markedly different 

 characteristics. The source of the seed used in a variety test is often 

 a stronger factor than the variety in determining yield, and the 

 results of variety tests may be misleading. 



For this reason no table of corn yields is included. Adapted strains 

 that have been produced locally for a number of years are likely to 

 be more productive than corn brought in from a distance. Since 

 maturity is an important factor, if corn seed is introduced an effort 

 should be made to procure it from a source where the season is as 

 short as or shorter than the season where the crop is to be grown. 



CORN VARIETIES GROWN FOR SILAGE 



Varietal tests of corn for silage were conducted from 1923 to 1931. 

 Results are given in table 14. In most years sunflowers and Dakota 

 Amber sorgo were grown for comparison. Sunflowers were discon- 

 tinued after 1929. They were less productive than some varieties 

 of corn and contained much less dry matter. In some years they 

 were too immature to make silage of good quality. 



