CEREAL EXPERIMENTS AT DICKINSON, N. DAK. 13 
Rather complete data are taken upon the behavior of the different 
varieties. The quantity of grain actually sown upon the plat is de- 
termined by weighing the grain placed in the drill and that taken 
out after the plat is seeded. The difference in the two weighings 
is the actual quantity of grain sown. After the plants emerge and 
when it is certain no more will appear, the number of thousand plants 
to the acre is determined for each variety.t| Notes on the date of 
planting, emergence, heading, ripening, and harvesting each variety 
are also taken. At harvest time a small but representative sample of 
the grain from each plat is pulled and taken to the laboratory for 
further study. 
A small separator with an 18-inch cylinder is used in thrashing. 
The total weight of the crop and the weight of the thrashed grain 
from each plat are obtained. The weighings are made at the thrash- 
ing machine, one just before and the other immediately after the 
grain is thrashed. If the separator does not deliver the grain free 
from chaff and dirt, it is cleaned and reweighed. The weight of the 
grain is subtracted from the total weight of the crop, to determine the 
weight of the straw and chaff. The weight of grain and the weight 
of straw per plat are multiplied by the proper factor, to determine 
the yield in pounds per acre. The weight of grain divided by the 
standard weight per bushel of the crop gives the actual yield of grain 
to the acre. In the laboratory a study is made of the sample of grain 
taken from each plat. The percentage of rust infection, if any, ‘is 
noted. The average height, head length, culms per plant, heads per 
plant, and grains per head of 10 plants from each plat are recorded. 
Small samples of grain of a portion of the wheat varieties are sent 
to the North Dakota Agricultural College, where milling and baking 
tests are made. 
WHEAT. 
Tt is well known that the northern Great Plains area is primarily 
a spring-wheat region. Practically no winter wheat is grown in west- 
ern North Dakota. Farmers have many times planted small areas 
to winter wheat only to have it killed during the winter or spring 
by freezing. The varietal tests of this crop at Dickinson have been. 
confined almost entirely to the spring wheats. 
SPRING WHEAT. 
The annual and average yields in bushels per acre obtained in 
varietal tests with spring wheat at Dickinson from 1907 to 1913 are 
given in Table VI. The 1912 crop was entirely destroyed by hail; 
hence, the results of only six years are given. Check plats have been 
used since 1908. 
'For an explanation of the method used in making these determinations, see p. 22. 
