30 
Colorado Experiment Station 
POOR REPUTATION OF COLORADO WHEAT 
UNDESERVED 
Colorado wheat has among our bakers and people a rather 
indifferent reputation. This is wrong, for much of our wheat is 
A1 in every respect. Great improvement could be made by the 
exercise of a little more intelligent attention to these points: 
The variety planted, the condition of the land and the care of the 
crop after harvesting. These points are in the control of the 
farmer. The miller too, has his share in producing good flour 
but the Colorado farmer can produce a very good wheat if he 
has th e will to do it. 
RECAPITULATION 
Some of the most important conclusions are as follows: 
The better grades of Colorado wheat rank well with the 
wheats grown in Kansas and the Northwest. 
When Colorado wheat is low in gluten, soft, it is due to its 
growing in a soil relatively low in available nitrogen—a condition 
that the farmer can remedv if he will. 
A poor quality of grain sometimes results from an attack of 
rust, but not more frequently than in other states. 
The Defiance is very susceptible to this disease and is late 
in maturing, increasing the chance of an attack. The growing 
neriod of the Red Fife is from 8 to 10 days shorter than that of 
the Defiance, has a stiffer straw and has proven less susceptible. 
Flour made from the better grades of Colorado wheat, grown 
on ground rieh in available nitrogen is as good as Minnesota or 
Kansas flour for bread-making. It produces as many loaves and 
the Quality is as good. 
The quality of the wheat varies a good deal with the variety. 
We find the Defiance the poorest of the varieties used in our 
experiments. 
We have found that the available nitrogen can be greatly in¬ 
creased in our soil by cultivating it fallow the preceding season. 
This is brought about by the activity of micro-organisms. Early 
fall plowing is also very helpful. 
The available nitrogen necessary to produce hard wheat may 
be added to the soil by growing alfalfa or clover and turning under 
the stubble. 
The effects of subirrigation on the quality of wheat are small. 
Wheat should be well supplied with moisture till in early head, 
when it should have its last irrigation. 
