44 



BULLETIN 1244, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



been extremely unfavorable. With normal seasonal conditions the 

 results would be very different. The data available are not sufficient 

 to determine with any degree of definiteness which of the small 

 grains may be expected to give the best yields. Farther east, where 

 moisture conditions are more favorable, proportionately greater 

 yields might be expected. The total weights of grain and straw from 

 crops harvested for grain may be taken as a basis for estimating the 

 yields. These yields are probably 20 to 30 per cent greater than 

 when the crop is cut in the very soft dough stage, which is generally 

 considered the best stage for hay. 



Table 26. — Yields of grain cut for hay at Moccasin and Havre, Mont., in stated 



years. 







Yields 



per acre (pounds). 







Station and crop. 



Field-cured 

 material. 



Air-dry material. 



Average. 





1917 



1918 



1919 



1920 



1921 



1922 





Moccasin: 



Oats 



2,098 

 2,357 

 2,805 



2,983 

 3,919 

 4,469 



1,980 

 1,760 

 1,850 



1,073 

 903 



847 



912 

 842 

 664 



1,224 

 1,920 

 2,159 



1,654 



992 



1,528 



2,294 

 2,667 

 2,229 



980 



1,040 



775 



2,915 



2,888 

 3,9SS 



1,140 

 630 

 540 



2,098 



2.442 

 'J. 749 



Wheat 



Barley 



Havre: 



Oats 



1,333 



Wheat 





1,053 





1,071 







The average total weights of grain and straw are approximately 

 as follows: Havre — wheat three-fifths of a ton, oats one-half of a 

 ton; Ardmore and Dickinson — wheat 1^ tons, oats 1^ tons; Moccasin 

 and Mandan — wheat 2 tons. These yields, in general, are somewhat 

 less than those of corn fodder. 



MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 



RAPE AND KALE. 



Under favorable conditions rape and kale may have some value as 

 pasture crops for hogs. They have produced fairly satisfactory 

 yields when moisture conditions were favorable. Rape has out- 

 yielded kale early in the season, but kale appears to be able to with- 

 stand a longer period of dry weather. At Kedfleld, in 1920 and 1921, 

 rape averaged 7.3 tons and kale 7.8 tons of green material per acre. 

 At Dickinson rape when harvested in the fall averaged somewhat 

 over 9 tons per acre in 1920, 1921, and 1922. In 1922 kale yielded at 

 the rate of 9 tons per acre and rape at the rate of 7 tons per acre. 

 Neither rape nor kale has so far done much at Havre or Moccasin. 



ROOT (KOPS. 



Up to now root crops have contributed very little to the forage 

 resources in t he northern Great Plains region. With a, view to procur- 

 ing more definite data as regards the possibilities of root crops for 

 winter forage, tests have been conducted at several points in the 

 region. Table 27 gives the results by years lor one of the best- 

 known varieties each of mangels, rutabagas, and carrots, 



