UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Washington, D. C. Vv August 18, 1922 
METHODS OF WINTER-WHEAT PRODUCTION AT 
THE FORT HAYS BRANCH STATION. 
By Joun 8. Coxe, Agriculturist, and A. L. Hauustep, Assistant in Dry-Land Agri- 
culture, Office of Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
Winter wheat in Ellis and adjoining counties Cooperative experiments, etc.—Continued. 
ATI S AGE hyn Sl ees age Rl et 1 Wheat in intertilled strips............... 20 
Cooperative experiments in methods of wheat Growing winter wheat without plowing. 20 
production at the Fort Hays branch station. 7 Corn and kafir as preparations for wheat. 23 
Continuous and alternate cropping to Wheat in miscellaneous rotations...... 24 
wheat for J4-years..2.-2...-..2.---..-. 8 Wheat in 3-year rotations of kefir, fallow, 
Wheat in rotations for 14 years........... 13 anidiwiten tas 2 seis Une PER ae 26 
Methods OipallO wee cee aes 5 eee coh ae 17 PE SGM ayes. So oR RIE pe MERE E 29 
WINTER WHEAT IN ELLIS AND ADJOINING COUNTIES IN KANSAS. 
The Fort Hays branch experiment station is located in Ellis 
County. This county is in the western tier of the solid block of 
28 counties which with 2 others were designated in the 1901 report 
of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture! as ‘million-bushel”’ 
counties in wheat production. 
The statistics gathered by the State Board of ereeilvre and 
published in its biennial reports make it possible to follow the history 
of each crop from the beginning of agriculture in the county and 
the region and to determine the rotation and cultural problems as 
they present themselves in the accomplished fact of actual practice. 
Klis County is recorded as containing 900 square miles, or 576,000 
acres. Since the first attempt was made at cultivation in 1870 
the area under the plow has increased until in 1920 the total area 
for all crops reached 270,867 acres. But with the extension of the 
cultivated acreage the rate of increase is diminishing. A distinct 
break in the curve showing the total acres of all crops in the county 
is noted in 1903. For the 15 years preceding that date the increase 
1 Kansas. State Board of Agriculture. Biennial Report, v. [3-27], 1874-1919-20. Topeka, 1874-1921. 
107903°—22——1 
