


Report of the First Assistant.* 
INTRODUCTION. 
The following report is the result of such work as I have: 
been enabled to perform, in addition to my regular Station 
duties as First Assistant. This work has been confined to: 
the special study of cereal varieties, and the conducting of 
such experiments as time and means would permit, relative 
to wheat, oats, barley and rye. 
No work has yet been attempted in America, so far as is 
known, in the way of carefully studying from living speci- 
mens, the cereal varieties, resolving them into their various 
classes, reducing to synonyms, and clearing away In a 
measure the mist which surrrounds them. The value of 
this work may perhaps be. appreciated if the reader 
will remember that in the desire to secure money and 
speculate in new varieties, not only many seedsmen, but 
the honest farmers are yearly imposed upon by introducers 
of old varieties under new names, and at widely different. 
prices. It has been my aim to carefully and conscientiously 
study each and every so-called variety, place all synonyms 
in their proper places, and describe the varieties as clearly 
as possible. It is true that these descriptions are not per- 
fect, and that they do not cover the whole field necessary 
to enable us to always determine varieties, simply by its 
aid, but they are presented in concise form, as the result of 
much valuable data, in the hope that they will be of value 
to those who may have a use for such material. In 
every case, in addition to the mere note taking, a vast 
number of measurements were made, very many on each 
variety, of the various parts of the plant. These have a 
considerable comparative value, and are placed so as to be 
easily referred to. 
WHEAT VARIETIES. 
During the season of 1886, the study of varieties of wheat 
received careful attention in continuance of the work begun 
in 1885. The number of varieties was very considerably in- 
creased, and the notes taken covered the line of work more 
*O> S.. Plumb. 

