H I h f'7 J ' "ripntj i! 'lie Ml i ued Au ist 20, 1908. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF PLANT IND1 STRY (Uvular N T o. 12. B i G W.l.i'W.W . Chief of Bun DIM-LAND GRAINS. WILLIAM M. JARDINE, Agronomist in Charge of Experiments with Dri Land ( !ere \i s, Grain I \\ i>i n. \ i i< ins. 2 08 WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE . 19 BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. Physiologist and Pathologist, and Chief of Bureau, Beverly T. Galloway. Physiologist and Pathologist, and Assistant Chief of Bureau, Albert F. Woods. Laboratoi y o) Plant Pathology, Erwin F. Smith, Pathologist in Charge. I in i stigations of Diseases of Fruits, Merton B. Waite, Pathologist in Charge. Laboratory of Forts! Pathology, Haven Metcalf, Pathologist in Charge. Cottonand Truck Diseases and Plant Visea < Survey, William A. Orton, Pathologisl in Charge. Plant Lift History Investigations, Walter T. Swingle. Physiologist in Charge. Cotton Breeding Invi ligation , Archibald D.Shamel and Daniel N. Shoemaker, Physiologists in Charge Tobacco Investigation*. Archibald D. Shamel, Wightman W. Garner, and Ernest II. Mathewson, in Charge. Corn Investigations, Charles 1'. Hartley, Physiologist in Charge. Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant Bruiting Investigations, Thomas II. Kearney, Physiologist in Charge. Soil Bacteriology and Water Purification Investigations, Karl F. Kellerman, Physiologist in Charge Bionomic Investigations of Tropical and Subtropical Plants, Orator F. Cook. Bionomist in Charge. Drug and Poisonous Plant Invei ti gut ions and Tea Culture Investigations, Rodney II. True, Physiologist in Charge. Physical Laboratory, Lyman .1. Briggs, Physicist in Charge. ( top I • hnology and Fiber Plant Investigations, Nathan A. Cobb, Crop Technologist in Charge. Taxonomic and Range Inn stigations, Frederick V. Coville, Botanist in Charge. I'm in Mo in i gi mi nt Inn I i gnl ions, William J. Spillman, Agriculturist in Charge. Grain Investigations, Mark Alfred Carleton, ( terealist in Charge. Arlington Experimental Form. Lee C. Corbett, Horticulturist in Charge. Vegetablt Testing Gardens, William W. Tracy, sr., Superintendent. Sugar-Bctt tin tigation < harles O. Townsend, Pathologist in Charge. Western Agricultural Extension hut stigations. Carl S. Scofleld. Agriculturist in I Marge. Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations, E. ('banning Chilcott, Agriculturist in Charge. Pomological Collections, Gustavus B. Brackett, Pomologist in Charge. Field line ligations in Pomology, William A. Taylor and G. Harold Powell, Pomologists in Charge. Experimental Gardt n. and Grounds, Edward M. Byrnes, Superintendent. Foreign Seed arid Plant Introduction, David Fairchild, Agricultural Explorer in Charge. Forage Crop Investigations, Charles V. Piper, A.grostologis1 in Charge Seed Laboratory, Edgar Brown, Botanist in Charge. Grain Standardization, John I). Shanahan. Crop Technologist in Charge. Subtropical Laboratory and Garden, Miami ria.. Ernsl \. Bessey, Pathologist in charge. Plant Introduction Gardt n, Chico, Cal., W. W. Tracy, jr., Assistant Botanist in Charge. South Texas Gardt n It run ■ fix.. Edward C. ( ireen, Pomologist in Charge. / ,11 mi rs' Coopcral 1 1 1 /». mon tralion Work. Seaman A. Knapp, Special Agent in Charge. Seed Distribution (directed by Chief of Bureau!. Lisle Morrison, Assistant in General charge. / dilor, J. E. Rockwell. Chief Clerk, James E.Jones. [Cir. 12] 2 It. p. I DRY-LAM) GRAINS, INTRODUCTION. Experience has shown thai when excessively large companies farm greal tracts of land the tendency is to exploil the land for the greatest immediate profil at the expense of the permanent value of the soil. Proper soil-cultural methods are uot observed; rotations for the preservation of soil fertility are neglected; the main crop, wheal, is grown continuously, and the seed is allowed to degenerate through careless methods. Undoubtedly there are exceptions to this rule. It is not the writer's wish to intimate that rational dry farming is impossible when carried on by large companies, bul the general rule has been as stated here. It is evident that the homesteader, having in mind the value of his home and the welfare of his posterity) more likely to perpetuate and increase the value of his land. Arid farming, then, in its most comprehensive sense, should be devoted to the production of such crops as will make home life in the arid section profitable and attractive. It must be so conducted as to insure permanent settlement by the homesteader. DIVERSITY OF CROPS NECESSARY. In order to bring about the desirable conditions mentioned, it is necessary to produce a variety of crop-. Forage plants, such as sorghum, with alfalfa, field peas, and other legumes, must be grown to feed the domestic animals on the farm and to take their proper places in a rational rotation. Drought-resistant trees should be developed and grown, so that the farmstead will be a plea -ant dwelling place. There will doubtless be found, sooner or later, orchard tree which will be successful in the arid sections. These and many other crops all have their place- and aid in making arid farms habitable, but the fundamental crops in arid farming are and always will be, as at present, the cereal-. Those grown under arid condition- arc wheat, oats, rye. barley, spelt, emnicr. corn, the grain sorghums, and millets. The value of oats and barley as U~i-<\- " The following address delivered by Mr. Jardine al tli<' second session of the Trans- Missouri Dry-Farming i held at Sail Lake City, Utah, on January 23, will be to farmers in the arid and semiarid part- of the West. — B. T. Galloway, P /'•' [Cir. 12.] 3 4 DRY-LAND GRAINS. for the farm horse is universally conceded, as is also the fact that they are usually salable at profitable prices. Corn is a very valuable stock feed and will some day be raised extensively either for grain or forage on arid lands. It is also a valuable crop in a rotation, since it is a cultivated crop and hence may be substituted for the expensive practice of summer fallowing. Rye, spelt, and emmer are excellent hog and cattle feeds and can often be raised under conditions which do not permit the growing of wheat, oats, or barley. As oats and barley are at present largely spring varieties, their yields are not so large and reliable as that of wheat. Considerable work is now being done to develop hardy winter types. The results already obtained indicate that this can be accomplished. BARLEY. Probably the most drought-resistant varieties of spring barleys are those belonging to the beardless and hull-less types. These are fast becoming recognized as valuable varieties to grow on the dry lands. They are highly valued for stock feed and, being spring crops, are well adapted to a rotation in which they can follow winter wheat. There are a number of promising winter varieties which now give evidence of being adapted to a large section of country. It is expected that within a very short time a number of reliable winter varieties of barley will be ready for distribution among the farmers; in fact, we have at this time one such variety, known as Tennessee Winter barley. This was originated at the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station in 1900. It has been successfully grown as a winter variety as far north as central Nebraska. Its popularity is constantly increasing, especially in Kansas, where it is rapidly displacing the spring types. Its yield is usually about one-third better than that of the spring varieties, and its quality is equal to the best. The Tennessee Winter variety is considered as thoroughly established. A limited amount of seed can be obtained from the leading grain dealers in the Central Plains area. OATS. There are a number of spring varieties of oats that withstand drought to a marked degree. Among the most promising are the following: Sixty-Day, Kherson, Burt, and Swedish Select. These varieties are usually quick growers; hence 1 are able to use to the best advantage the early spring moisture and by maturing early escape to a considerable extent the severe droughts which occur later in the season. Oats, like barley, will always find a place in the crop system on the dry lands, yet neither of these crops will ever be as prominent as wheat. [Cir. 12] DRY-LAND GRAINS. 5 At present there is no well-established variety of winter oats that can be considered as perfectly adapted to the Greal Plains area. However, there are some very promising strains in our experiments, ;iinl it is hoped thai within a few years r more winter types adapted to this area will be developed. One of these can already be regarded .-is established in various sections of the rntermountain Slate-. It is a black winter variety of excellent quality, coming originally from England and grown for the pasl eighl years by Mr. Stephen Boswell, foreman of the Nephi Agricultural Experiment Substation, Nephi, Utah, and known as Boswell Winter oat.-. 'Phis will probably be successful in the Greal Plains area. It is now- planted in a number of place- on the Plain- and farther east. It has gone into the winter in good condition at most of these points, and it- vegetative habits indicate that it will survive the winter in good shape. SPELT Wl> EMMER, Spell and ernmer are less generally known than the other --rains. Tin- i- largely due to their comparatively recent introduction into tin- country, they having been imported only a lew years ago from southern and eastern Russia sections similar in -oil and climatic conditions to those in the Dakota- and southward. 'There is some confusion regarding -pelt and emmer. They are generally both called -pelt. The two are quite distinct, however. especially in out- ward appearance, and their botanical characteristics are a- different in some respects a- those of -pelt and wheat. They are similar in the fact thai the chaff adhere- closefj to the berry after thrashing. This is probably the cause of the confusion. For actual differences, see the description on page 6 of Farmers' Bulletin No. L39, issued by the V. S. Department <>\' Agriculture. Botanically, -pell and emmer arc close!} related to wheat, but economically i hey mighl bel ter be classed wit h oats and barlej . since they are cultivated in this country for stock food only. In feeding value t he\ have been found quite equal to barley. As a mixture with other grains, such as corn, barley, and oats, the} arc highly prized. Coming, as the} do, from a section having hot, dry summer-, their success in our arid region i- practically assured. Their ability to resist droughl i- remarkable in spite of the fad thai the} are mosth spring varieties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture ha- succeeded in obtaining a black winter variety of emmer thai shows remarkable yielding power and ability to grow under greal variation in climatic conditions, including our mosl severe winters. The future popularity of these two grains will l>e measured largeh b} their abilitj to adapt themselves as winter types, jusl as i- the case with oats and barley. I »if. 12] DRY-LAND GRAINS. THE GRAIN SORGHUMS. The grain sorghums are another class of cereals that are proving valuable in the arid region. Milo, black-hull kafir, and red kafir are already grown extensively for this purpose in the southern part of the Great Plains area, as well as in California. These three varieties, with brown kowliang, a Chinese grain sorghum, are the most promis- ing for use in extending this crop into other dry regions. Milo belongs to the durra group, it was originally a tall, uneven, free-stooling, much-branched crop, 7 to 10 feet high, with pendent or goose-necked heads. It has been greatly improved in earliness, habit of growth, and productiveness. To-day there is a dwarf and uniform crop, the standard strain 4\ feet high, the dwarf strain .'!' feet high, both stooling and branching but little, and bearing from 75 to 90 per cent of their heads erect. The average yields of shelled grain in the Panhandle country are about 40 bushels to the acre. This is at an elevation of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet, with an average rainfall of 22 inches. In 1907 the crop was ripened in Colorado at an altitude of 5,500 feet and in South Dakota at 2,000 feet elevation and 44° of latitude. The improved milo crop is adapted to rapid and economical han- dling on a large scale by machinery. It is planted with the corn planter, harvested witli the corn binder or grain binder, and thrashed in the grain separator. As soon as 95 per cent of the heads are erect, the grain header can profitably be used in harvesting. Milo seems fully adapted to successful extension over much of the Plains region and may well be tried throughout the intermountain areas. The kafir varieties are equally drought-resistant and productive, but rather later in maturing and not adapted to such high altitudes or latitudes. They are better combination grain and forage crops, because of greater juiciness and more abundant foliage. In the kafirs the heads are naturally borne erect and the crop is adapted to heading, if desired. The group of kowliangs, or Chinese grain varieties, contains the earliest strains yet known. The best variety matured in the Pan- handle of Texas in 1907 in eighty-five days. The kowliangs, how- ever, must be selected for greater productiveness before they will be ready for general distribution. RYE. Rye is so well known that lit t It' need be said of it. The growing of rye is often objected to because of its persistent tendency to volunteer and mix with other grains. It is in some sections coming to be con- sidered as a weed and as something to be avoided. Notwithstanding these objections, rye lias many valuable qualities. It can nearly always be relied upon to produce a crop under conditions of drought LClr. il'I DRY-LAND GB \ i too severe for wheal or any oilier grain. There are both spring and winter varieties. The spring varieties are most valuable as green manuring crops, and also for summer forage and pasturage. Winter varieties are most profitable for the production of grain and forage. The value of rye as forage is almost equal to thai of timothy, if cut at the proper time. When grown as forage there is little danger of it- spreading or mixing with other grains, because it is cut at the blooming period. The ability of rye to produce a heavy foliage even under very dry condition- make- it especially valuable as a dry-farm forage crop. Its grain, too, is valuable as a stock food. MINOR < ROPS. Millets and Max may be discussed as among the crops of minor importance, but crops that are fast becoming recognized as suitable to gro\* in rotation-, if not to a wider extent, on the dry lands of the West. Flax especially i- recognized a- a profitable crop to grow on new land. It subdues the soil well and at the same time make- a profitable yield. Millet- are found to he productive both in grain and in forage. It is only a question of a short time until both of these crop- will he much more w idel\ grown than at present. WHEAT THE PR] \(Ii' \l. ( ROP. All the cereal- named occupy important places in arid farming. Wheat, however, i- the most widely used of the cereals, and for this reason the demand for it i- always strong and its sale practically sure. The demand for the other crops, being more limited than that for wheat, is liable to greater variations; hence these grains will never be a- generally popular as wheat. From these considerations it i- -ecu that, though oats, barley, spelt, emmer, rye, and corn are extremely important, both a- salable products and in rotations, wheat i-. and probably will always remain, the greal basic cereal of the arid \Ye-t . and it will receive the greatest consideration here. THE ARID REGION. The section which we consider a- mor ■ less arid includes the western half of the Dakota-. Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas southward to the Gulf, and the region westward to the Coast Range, thus including the greater part of the so-called Great Plains area, the iniennoimtain West, and some vast area- in California, Oregon, and Washington. The annual precipitation in this area varies from I to 20 or 25 inches. Altitude and climatic and soil con- ditions are extremely variable and determine to a greater or lesser extent the varieties that can he grown and the method- that must he employed, [fir. 12] » DRY-LAND GRAINS. THE GREAT WHEAT GROUPS. Several hundred varieties of wheat, more or less distinct, are grown in this arid section. The great bulk of these varieties, how- ever, falls into four groups: (1) The hard spring wheats: (a) common; (b) durum. (2) The hard winter wheats. (3) The semisoft white or intermountain wheats. (4) The soft white or Pacific coast wheats. In general, each group characterizes a certain belt, or region. These belts are, of course, not sharply defined, but certain types of wheat predominate in each. THE HARD SPRING-WHEAT GROUP. The hard spring-wheat belt includes the States of North Dakota and South Dakota and a portion of northwestern Nebraska. Tliis section can also be considered as the home of the durum wheats in the United States. It is here that they flourish best and are grown most extensively. The two most prominent varieties of common wheat grown are Bluestem and Ked Fife. These two varieties and the durums are the principal wheats grown in the section. The milling quality of Fife and Bluestem is usually considered to be superior to that of most other wheats. The wheats known as "No. 1 Hard" and "No. 1 Northern" come from these two varie- ties, and they usually bring the highest price on the market. The Fife is a native of Russia, though sometimes called "Scotch Fife." The growing of winter wheat has not as yet been practicable in this area because of the long, severe winters, light precipitation in the fall, and severe alternate freezing and thawing in the early spring. The Durum Wheats. The durum wheats have been grown in this country in insignifi- cant quantities for about thirty-five years, but until 1900 there was no organized effort to induce the extensive cultivation of these grains. During that year the Department of Agriculture sent a representa- tive to the durum-wheat sections of Russia to investigate the con- ditions favorable for durum-wheat production. As a result of this investigation a large number of varieties were introduced by the Department of Agriculture. They were distrib- uted to various stations of the Great Plains area, where the conditions are very similar to those found in Russia and Algeria, from which latter country a number of varieties have also been introduced. At first these grains w ere received with but little favor, in spite of the fact that they produced excellent yields and exhibited remarkable rust- resistant and drought-resistant qualities. Their rust resistance is [.Cir. 121 DRY-LAND GRAINS. 9 especially important. 'Phis was particularly noticeable in the rust epidemic of 1904, when so much damage was done to the common varieties. The later popularity of durum wheats in this section Is largely due to their greal resistance of rust in this epidemic. They arc, in fact, coming to be considered as the only reliable spring varie- ties to grow in sections where rust is frequently prevalent. Their drought-resistant qualities are constantly being broughl to notice. In Texas, Montana, California, Utah, and in many other sections where severe drought occurs thej are outyielding all other spring varieties and in many instances arc rivaling some of the leading winter grains. It has Keen found that these wheats are particularly adapted to the Dakotas. Ahnni 80 to 85 per cent of the durum wheat produced in 1907 was grown in this belt. GROWING lull 1 \IIITV OF DUR1 M WHEATS. The opposition to the durum wheats, especially among farmers, is rapidly disappearing; in fact, these wheats are even being grown in sections to which the\ are not adapted and where they should not he planted. They have Keen taken to Minnesota, a section wholTj unsuited to their production because of the high precipitation and the excessive humidity of the atmosphere. They are preeminently grains to he grown where the summers are hot and the atmosphere dry. The farmers of Minnesota, however, have come to value the durums because of their rust resistance rather than because the\ are otherwise adapted to that section. In sonic parts of the State they are displacing Fife and Bluestem. For this reason the millers are inclined to oppose them \r\\ vigorously and in this they are fully justified. The U. S Department of Agriculture has never recom- mended the growing of durum wheats in the humid regions. The durum wheats became prominent commercially in L903, when 6,000,000 bushels were produced. Their production has steadily increased up to the present time. The crop of 1906 was between in. (ion. Him and 50,000,000 bushels; that of L907 was even greater, notwithstanding the unfavorable crop conditions in the Dakotas. One of t he striking features in fa\ or of t he durum w heat is the grow- ing demand for it in both foreign and domestic markets. Of the crop of 1906, some 6,000,000 to 10,000,000 bushels were consumed in the mills of Minneapolis in blending with other wheat: 20,000,000 bushels were shipped to foreign markets, some of it going to Russia, whence it was originally introduced; some 5,000,000 bushels were used I'm seeding the crop of 1907, and the remainder w as used 1>\ small mills throughout the country. Before the harvest of the L907 crop the 1906 yield was entirely consumed. The L907 crop is going even more rapidly. One man. representing a foreign [Clr. 12] 10 DBY-LAND GRAINS. firm, purchased last December 1,500,000 bushels for export. This is the largest quantity ever bought for export trade at one time by one man. The difference in price between the durum wheats and the No. 1 Northern is becoming smaller each year. Durum wheat now sells for about 2 cents more than No. 2 Red Winter on the Chicago market. The attitude of the northwestern grain journals regarding durum wheat is rapidly becoming less antagonistic, and even the millers are beginning to concede points in its favor. As the millers perfect their methods for milling these wheats they invariably recognize the merit of the durums, especially as blends with the softer varieties and as a source of semolina, or "macaroni flour." It seems certain that the durum wheats are destined to become the leading spring varieties throughout the whole arid West. THE HARD WINTER OR CRIMEAN WHEATS. The belt in which the hard winter or Crimean wheats are grown includes the States of Kansas and southern and central Nebraska and Oklahoma, extending into the Panhandle of Texas, the area of maximum production being in central Kansas. The hard winter or Crimean group of wheats predominates in this belt, although spring varieties, especially durums, are grown to a limited extent. The typical varieties of this group are the Turkey (sometimes called "Turkey Red"), the Kharkof, and the Crimean. These are commonly known as the "hard red winter wheats." The Kharkof is probably the most highly valued. In appearance it very closely resembles the Turkey, the variety most generally known among the farmers because of its widespread growth prior to the more recent introduction of the Kharkof. In brief, the wheats of this group are all bearded and have white chaff and hard red berries. They usually do not grow very tall, but are very heavy yielders. They are in great demand as milling wheats, although they are not considered equal to No. 1 Hard and No. 1 Northern grades of the Fife and Bluestem of the Dakotas. No. 1 Hard Winter, the best wheat of this belt, usually brings about the same price as No. 2 Hard Spring wheat. These hardy winter wheats originated in Russia and get their name from the peninsula of Crimea, where they are most promi- nent. They have long been known as leading varieties in that sec- tion of Russia, where they are subjected to extremely severe winter conditions. They have been grown in the United States for a third of a century. Thev were firsl grown by the Mennonite colonists who came here from Russia, bringing their seed witli them. They [Cir. 1-1 DRY-LAND GRAINS. II have continually advanced in popularity up ti> the presenl time, 1 >u t the area of winter-wheat production has been greatly extended through tin 1 more recent introduction of -till hardier types of ilus group, the most conspicuous among them being the Kharkof. The production of these winter wheats is 1>\ no means limited to this belt. They are successfully grown locally in various sections uf Montana and Colorado, where they are becoming recognized as the leading winter t\ pes. They are also becoming prominent as far north us the wheal areas of Alberta, Canada. In some of these sections their qualitj is often better than it i- in Kansas, hut the Kansas area is preeminently the center of hard wheat production. About 70,000,000 bushels have been produced there each year for the past three \ cars. IN I ERMOl X I \l\ W III. VTS. Proceeding westward from the hard winter-wheat belt, we come to the intermountain area. The wheat of this bell may be consid- ered as intermediate between thai of the Greal Plains and thai of the Pacific coast. In this bell there is a more or less heterogeneous mixture of nearly all kind- of wheat, with a tendency toward the production of a white, sofl berry, thus resembling the grain of the bell farther west. This is believed to be largely due to climatic and soil conditions different from those of the Greal Plains. Here, too, the winter varieties predominate; in fact, it appears thai before long winter wheat will be grown here almost exclusively and that what- ever spring wheal is grow n will be con lined to the durum group, since these arc practically the only varieties capable of withstanding the extremely hot . <\r\ summers. It can not be said, as in discussing the previous belts, thai any particular variety is predominant. It is true to a considerable extent that all new varieties, however differenl when introduced into this area, tend to approach a uniform type. The lack of a predominating type is probably due to the fact that this area has heretofore been somewhat inconsequential in the world's wheat markets. The production ha- been entirely local and ha> attracted hut little out- side attention. Since the recent developmenl of arid farming is making possible an enormous outpul of wheat from this section there is no question that the same influences which have forced the growing of onlj one type in each of the other wheat belts will ulti- mately bring about the same reduction in the number of wheat varieties here and the establishment of a predominating t.vpe. In the judgment of the writer, the coming wheat- for this region will he the Crimean group for winter wheat and the durum- for spring. [Cir. 12] 12 DRY-LAND GRAINS. CREATED 1 Ml < (KM I I I EC] 3SARY. Beyond all question, a greater uniformity must be brought about before the full possibilities of wheat growing in the intermountaio section can be realized. This can be accomplished largely by discard- ing all inferior varieties, by introducing new and superior types, and by improving them still further. With this in view, the U. S. Department of Agriculture is establishing cereal stations at various places in the arid region and is doing a large amount of work inde- pendently and in cooperation with the State agricultural experi- ment stations. With the proper cooperation and support of the farmers, this much-needed change can certainly be made, but whether or not they are willing to discard entirely their soft white wheats it is certainly true that they must sooner or later grow a uniform type, be it hard or soft. Before I hey can attract a market they must be known as producers of some particular wheat. Fruit growers recognize this principle of uniformity and profit by it. This point has also been forcibly illustrated by the durum wheats in this country. When the, durum wheat was produced only locally and in small quantities it had absolutely no market, but just as soon as the Dakotas began to make a specialty of it its sale became easier and a market was soon firmly established. Uniformity should be sought for at all times, and this will be best accomplished by cooperation between the farmers and the State experiment stations and through agricultural organizations. THE PACIFIC WHEATS. The last belt to be considered is the Pacific coast belt. It includes the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys of California and 1 he Colum- bia basin region of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The wheats of this belt are the extreme opposite of those of the Kansas belt. In other words, they are very soft and white, and very low in gluten — the most highly prized constituent of the wheat berry — while the Kansas grains are hard, red, and rich in gluten. and hence more desirable. The wheats of the Pacific belt are not readily salable in the Minneapolis and Chicago markets; they find their sale chiefly on the Pacific coast and in western Europe and the Orient. The main varieties are the Defiance, Little Club* White Australian, and Sonora in California; the Red Chaff and Foise in Oregon; and the Palouse, Red Russian, and Bluestem in Washington and Idaho. So far ail attempts to maintain high gluten content in varieties introduced into the Pacific belt have been unsuccessful. As soon as the hard varieties become acclimated in this region they become starchy and soft and closely resemble the Pacific coast types in chem- ical composition. This i-- especially noticeable in the wheat sections [Cir. li' I DRY-LAND GRAINS. L3 of California, where wheal growing has been conducted on a large scale with the careless methods suggested in the beginning of this article. Kil't \ \ ears ago a better qualitj of wheat was produced, but the farm- ers have allowed the fertility of their soil to decrease and the quality ol their wheal has decreased in proportion. Thej are now reaping the reward of their unscientific methods. Tliis mighl well be taken as an objecl lesson by those who are beginning in the newer sections, as it emphasizes the necessity for crop rotation. It often becomes neces- sary to import hard wheats into California for use as blends in flour making. It seems to the writer thai this would be another possible use for the durums raised farther east. Such a course would increase the market for the durums and at the same time he of vast service to the farmers and millers of the Pacific hell. FUTURE IMPROVEMENT. The important question of scientific grain improvement by breed- elect inn, etc., is of greal importance, hut a full discussion of this question i- not within the province of this paper. This system of improvement is too expensive of both time and money to he followed by farmers alone. It calls for the cooperation of the I . S. Depart- ment of Agriculture, the State agricultural experiment stations, and the farmers. The Department is now cooperating with the stations in i he ai'id region in doing the scientific part of the work. Experi- ment substations, consisting of from 40 to 160 acres of farming land, are being established in representative dry-farming sections through- out the semiarid West. At these stations large numbers of grains are being tried for the purpose of determining their comparative droughl resistance. From so large a number it is expected in obtain a few varieties of marked superiority, from which individual plant selections will he made in order to further increase their productive- ness. The supply of seed of the best varieties will he increased as rapidly as possible for distribution to reliable farmers. This work is to he done under the close supervision of men specially trained along t hese hue-. It will rest with the farmer-, individually and through their organi- zations, to complete tin- work by increasing the supph of seed, by securing it- wide distribution among the tanner-, and by maintaining the standard of quality in order that a permanent market may he assured. Farmers' organizations will pia\ aspecialh important part. Heretofore the work has too often stopped with the purely scientific results, hut for permanent benefits the farmer himself must assist. Station- are being established and the work is now in progress ll en 'lit plan- operate vasl benefits and improvements can be confi dentl} expected. [Or. l-'J 14 DRY-LAND GRAINS. CONCLUSIONS. The following concrete conception of cereal production should be kept in mind: (1) From a disorganized condition the production of cereals, especially wheat, has, through the introduction of foreign varieties of grain, the elimination of inferior types, and a uniform system of main growing, become concentrated into tour belts more or less dis- tinct, and each, with one exception, characterized by the production of one or two standard varieties especially adapted to the conditions there obtaining. (2) The durum wheats have proved themselves particularly valu- able as spring types, especially as regards drought resistance and rust resistance, and they will ultimately become the leading spring type. (3) Winter wheats will always be grown where wheals can survive winter conditions, and the hard winter or Crimean group, because of their wide adaptability and excellent drought resistance, will prob- ably supplant all other winter types in all the belts, with the possible exception of the Pacific area. (4) The only possible way to obtain a steady and permanent mar- ket for grains is to concentrate on as few varieties as possible, this being especially necessary at this time in the intermountain area. Approved : James Wilson, S< en tary of Agricultun . Washington, D. C, June 27, 1908. [Cir. 12] o UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 3 1262 08928 9705