UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Washington, D. C. v March, 1925 
EXPERIMENTS WITH CEREALS AT THE AKRON (COLO.) FIELD STATION 
IN THE 15-YEAR PERIOD, 1908 TO 1922, INCLUSIVE 
By FRANKLIN A. CoFrFMAN, Associate Agronomist, Office of Cereal Investigations 
Bureau of Plant Industry 
CONTENTS 
Page Page 
MhercereallexpentmentS sess se eee 1a |eH xperimentsiwithybarleye-seness see 44 
. Description of the field station____.-_____--- 2 | Experiments with minor crops-_---------_--- 48 
WGOCATION ey sa eis me eee ee 2 WAT CCL ay Cee ee See Se eee 48 
EHO OF! We) Cl FA =~ se 3 SDring pyee ss.) -4- See Roe ne 49 
Solgonehe gistnictessesse eee eee 4 Win Lermemlimenins eee nae 49 
INatiVenVerectablone sss =e ee tana eee ae 6 S Dr gy MIN Cr sae ee eee ee ee 50 
Climaticicondifions sas ee 6 ] (2) | een Saath setae NLR eae eS eee 50 
Cropstofsthe districts sas nas 11 IRR OSOS ae See ses Sane See ee ee ea 50 
HxpenimentalimethodsSs--= 2252) sees 18 In by ee Ua aS ere ee ee ee Se eS ie) 
Preparation of the soil._-_________- TOUS 18 Buckwheat lars se tees oo ce ee ene Rae 51 
IPlatiexperlinents apse sss eee a ee ee 18 (Gimyin Gora ivan ooo et ee 51 
INIIESEL Yee XP CLI CTIES see ee eee ee 2075 | SExperimentsawithiconnee == ssn. sane eee 52 
Experiments with wheat=:..:...------------- Zi Comparison of erainicropse- 2224022522522 e =e 57 
Wanterswheaten 28 ee ee ee 21 | Choice of crops and types of farming recom- 
Springswheaten | eet ok ae ae I 31 THONG CGE ess Le ee A eh a ee 59 
Comparison of spring and winter wheats- 38), SUMMARY a5 oe eee a eek ce ee eee 60 
EXpPerlImMents wabhoatsences sea eee 40 
THE CEREAL EXPERIMENTS ! 
The investigations with cereals conducted at the Akron Field 
Station during the past 15 years have consisted chiefly of varietal 
studies, experiments on rate, date, and method of seeding, and the 
improvement of cereals by selection. The objects for which these 
investigations have been conducted are: (1) To determine the best 
crops, crop varieties, and strains for the region; (2) to improve 
cereal varieties by breeding; and (8) to determine the best methods 
of cereal production. 
1 The Akron Field Station is operated by the Office of Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations of the Bureau 
of Plant Industry. The cereal experiments are conducted by the Office of Cereal Investigations in coop- 
eration with that office. These experiments were begun in 1907. Wilson G. Shelley was in charge from 
March 1, 1908, until February 28, 1911. Clyde McKee was then appointed scientific assistant and placed 
in charge of cereal investigations at Akron, which position he retained till February 15, 1913. He was 
then succeeded by Charles H. Clark, who remained until July 1, 1913, on which date he was transferred to 
take charge of the flax investigations of the Office of Cereal Investigations. George A. McMurdo was placed 
in charge of the cereal experiments at the time of Mr. Clark’s transfer, which position he retained until 
February, 1917, when he resigned. He was succeeded by the writer in July, 1917. 
0421—25——1 
