/ • • I U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, i:i |;l \r 0l ri.W l IM'i -I l:N Circulai B. I. c.Al.l.i'W \Y. Chief o( Bur. DRY-LAND GRAINS FOR WESTERN NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. CECIL SALMON, Plant Physiologist, Grain Investigations WAMWUTON : GOVtRHMf.T pbintin a OfTKE : 1»IO EPOS! Bl'REAT OF PLANT INIU'STRY. [Cir.59] 2 , I'. Galloway. u, G. Harold Powell. Editor, J. E. ROCKWEI L. Chief Clerk, James I . .' DRY-LAND GRAINS POR WESTERN NOR AND SOUTH DAKOTA. INTRODUCTION. Tlir purpose of this pap nt -nine of the results obtained bj the < •:' : nited State I >ep irtmenl of \ ture, in several in western North and South e work done al the Bellefourche experi- ment I'.'.n i, flellcfo 5. Dak., and thai in cooperation with the al the substati I [ighmore, S. Dak., d Dickinson for the purpose of determining the besl in, are reported. tt is principally from these experi- ment farms thai definite and reliable information may be obtained liis subjecl . >i thai are nol menl ioned here. It has been the practice to add promising new varieties and to discard old ones as thej are found to be of no value. To include all these would add sh to this paper and confuse the farmer in his suited to his needs. b of \ ariet; . brief mention is made leriments to determine the bi !iii'_ r for the \ arious grains and the besl time and method of tion for seeding winter wheal. Other lines of work are beii time as the need for them becoi apparent. These will lie n when more complete information con i hem i- obi ained. > < '\< m 9IONS SOMEV M \ I m:\ivi i\ E. I the work h such that few attempts havi Tli,. results of two years' work are llefourche, of three for Dickinson, ami of -even for Highm ' rviously one must he extremely careful in drawing rom the results of only a few year-' work. nd opinions which are presented musl 1 led • and likely to be revised a- more knowledge on i a from tfa .•■ Buperij 4 DRY'-LAND GBAINS FOB NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. the subject is obtained. These results are submitted in the hope that they will be of immediate use to farmers, who, in many cases, come from the Eastern States, where the rainfall is abundant, and are unfamiliar with conditions in this area. SOIL. 1 1 has been the plan in locating these experiment farms to obtain, as far as possible, representative 1 conditions of both soil and climate, in order that the results may be applicable to a large area. BELLEForRCHK. The soil of the Bellefourche experiment farm is a very heavy clay called ''Pierre clay" by the Bureau of Soils; to farmers and stock- men if is familiarly known as "gumbo." It is chiefly characterized by its stickiness when wet and by its imperviousness to water, espe- cially after the surface becomes wet. It contains a fair amount of humus and appears to be rich in the essential elements of plant food. From a practical farmer's standpoint, its chief disadvantages are that it is very heavy and therefore expensive to work, and that it i> necessary to work it when it contains the proper amount of moisture. From the behavior of the crops, this soil seems to be very retentive of moisture and is productive when properly handled. Table I shows the results of a mechanical analysis of Pierre clay. a Its characteristic stickiness is perhaps explained by the large percent- age of clay and silt, amounting to 35 and 43.2 per cent, respectively. Table I. — Composition of Pierre clay as determined by mechanical analysis. Per cent. Fine gravel 0.2 Coarse sand 1.1 Medium sand 1. 4 Fine sand 5. 5 Very fine sand 13.0 Silt 43. 2 Clay 35. The Pierre clay passes gradually into a clay shale, which is found at a depth varying from a few feet to several hundred feet. This type of soil is found extensively in South Dakota west of the Mis- souri River, and in a few areas not covered with the glacial drift east of the river. It also extends into Montana and Wyoming. The field in which the greater part of the experimental work herein reported has been conducted seems to be well adapted to the purpose. Check plats have been used in all plantings when practicable to do so, and in most cases it has been found that there is little variation in different parts of the field. <* Soil Survey of the Bellefourche Area, Advance Sheet, Field Operations, 1907, Bureau of Soils, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. [Cir. 59] i>l;\ i \M> GRAINS FOB NOBTfl AND SOUTH DAKOTA. D BIOHHOR] . The Boil of the Elighmore Bubstation is of glacial origin. In texture it differs from the Bellefourche soil in that if is qo( so heav) and is easier to work. It is uniform both in texture and in topography. The results from thi-< station are extremelj valuable, both from this I'art and for the reason thai the experiments extend over a period of Beveral j ears. UK kl\-<>\. The soil of the Dickinson Bubstation is not bo heavj as thai of either Bellefourche or Highmore. Ii varies from a Bandy t" a claj loam. It is productive arid Is typical of extensive areas in western \mth Dakota. The field in which varietj tests are being con- ducted appears to be fairly uniform, although check plats in some years have made quite variable yields. CLIMATE. The climate of Bellefourche, Highmore, and Dickinson is fairly typical of the northern ( 'neat Plains. The annual mean temperal me" at Highmore is 14.5 F. It is 10.3 I'. at Dickinson. Records at Bellefourche have not been taken for a sufficient time to determine the mean temperature, hut it is probably about the same as at Highmore. Table 11 has been prepared for the purpose of showing the annual and seasonal rainfall for each year during which experiments have been conducted at each of these points. The normal rainfall for the full period for which records are available is also given for the pur- pose of comparison. li II Precipitation at Highmore, D ■ d Bellefourcht durii a! High ■ Annual. - Annu . - \nnii.il. 1906 IV 1 in S i: i. 7 1 In 1 11 '■ - ,1.0 Inchts. Inchtt. Inrhf.'. 11.4 1*14.0 <«9.0 o Innual Summai orth and £ l> Prom re in, 12 miles (run ml farm. •• M u h i from the records &i i inn m. 12 miles from the experimenl tana. ■ the normal precipitation for iiur'!. | by the [Cir. :.!•] 6 DRY-LAND GRAINS FOB NOBTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. In all discussions in this paper the seasonal precipitation is under- stood to be the amount of moisture which falls from March 1 to July :il . En the northern < treat I Mm ins the precipitation during tins period scnn- to be more closely related to crop production than does that of any other period. For small grains the Augusl and September rains are usually of no use as far a- the crop for that season is con- cerned. On the other hand, the March precipitation if conserved may often he of considerable use. Even lor crops which mature late in the season, such as com, the rainfall previous to August is as important as that which occurs later. In the growing of winter wheat the autumn and winter precipitation must also he considered. The differences in soil and climate at Bellefourche, Ffighmore, and Dickinson do not appear to he great enough to cause very different behavior of the grains. The results agree so closely that many of the same varieties are recommended for the three areas. As much difference is found between Bellefourche, flighmore, and Dickinson a- i- ordinarily found between other localities in the northern Great (Mains. It follows, therefore, that the results presented are probably applicable to the greater part of this area. MMie farmer, no matter where he is located, should study his conditions — toil, rainfall, tem- perature, evaporation, etc. By a comparison of his own conditions with those of the experiment farms and a study of the results obtained he may reach a very reliable conclusion as to the grains which are most likely to succeed on his farm. OTHER FACTORS WHICH HAVE INFLUENCED THE RESULTS. At all the experiment farms under discussion the grains have been grown as nearly as possible under field conditions. The ground has been well prepared, although no better than can be done on every well-regulated farm. The preparation has been uniform, so as to secure comparable yields for all varieties. At Dickinson and Bellefourche the crops have been grown on new land, with the exception of the barley at Dickinson in 1909, which was grown on corn ground. The usual practice has been to break the land in the spring of the previous year and backsel it in the fall. At Highmore the grain has usually been grown on land on which corn or small grain was grown the previous year. Corn ground has been used whenever possible. Before seeding in the spring the ground is disked and harrowed sufficiently to provide a good seed bed. The grain has been sown with a drill, usually a disk drill. The rate of seeding has not always been the same for different years. At Bellefourche the durum wheat has usually been sown at t he rate of 5 pecks per acre, common spring wheat 4 pecks, and barley and oats 5 and (i pecks, respectively. In the variety test in 1 ( J08 the [Cir. 59] DBY-LA i: l M \ ■ [ DA KOI i winter wheal was sown at the rate of 2 pei acre, while in the time-of-seeding test the rate was ii pecks per acre. All of the winter wheat, with the exception of thai in the rate-of-aeedin was sown al the rate of I pecks per acre in 1909. At Highmore the grain has been sown at the e for wheat, 6 pei for barley, and s pecks for oats. A common practice at Dickin has been to sow the durum wheal al the rate of 6 pecks per acre and the common wheal al the rate of 5 pecks per acre. Barley and o have been sown al the rate of 6 and S pecks, respectively. VARIETY TESTS. Varieties behave verj differently under differenl conditions of soil, climate, and culture. One of the princip cts of variet} tests U to obtain information concerning the behavior of varieties in rela- tion i" these factors. The besl variety is usually considered to be the one which will produce the highest avi ield for a period of years, quality and market value being considered. The abilitj oi a variety to produce a fair yield in an unfavorable year is an important consideration. Ii often happens that during such seasons consider- able differences will bo found between varieties which have produced uniformly good yields in favorable ones. Ii is largely for this reason that variety tests can ool be considered conclusive until the variel have been subjected to all the conditions which occur in tl w here they arc to be grow n. It is believed that the results herein reported, which are the mosl definite data obtainable for this area, indicate within reasonable limits those varieties which will usually do best. Further tests are expected to show more definite relations between varieties and • tain climatic ami soil conditions. In the mean time, the farmer is justified in using those which our present knowledge indicates to be the best . SPR] \<. win \ i The tables which follow do nol show a striking ority of any variety of the same class as far as yield is concerned. A probable explanation is that the varieties reported represent the best of sev- eral hundred which have been tested al different places. Ii is the practice of the Office of Grain Investigations of the Bureau of Plant [ndustrj to grow only a few of the besl varieties in Held tests. All ol her-, often numbering as main as tw three hundred, are grow n in small plats or rows. Only the besl of th ever increased, the remainder being discarded. A- an illustration, over two hundred varieties and -train- of durum wheat introduced by this office have been growrn at the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station 8 DRY-LAND GRAINS FOR NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. at Brookings. These were tested for several years, the best being grown in field tests. Sonic were grown as early as 1902 at Mellette, S. Dak., and in 1903 at the substation at Highmore. Later, when cooperative work was begun at the substations at Edgeley and Dick- inson, N. Dak., the best varieties were sent there for trial. In 1908, when the work at the Bellefourche experiment farm was inaugurated, only those varieties which these various tests had shown to be best were used. In the progress of the work at various places many varieties have been discarded, so that those which are being grown at present may be regarded as the best of their class. Tables III, IV, and V show the average and annual yields of the durum and common wheats at the three experiment farms under discussion. In Table IV, which shows the yields at Highmore, two columns of averages are given, as most of the common wheats were not grown until two years after the durum wheats were introduced. Table III. — Yield per acre of spring wheat grown at the experiment farm , Bellefourche, S. I>l;\ LAND GRAINS POH NORTH \M' SOUTH DAKOTA. S Dak . from 190 hi i:i \i w ill \ i G I \ Ul.lv 1807 1516 Kubanka. . \\ lid i Uii-ml ki Pcrcrodka. nk.i llin d \:\: Beloturka 1541 Kub ink. i- Ruth 17 x 10 _• 11 ii in n 21 i 28 "■ - 24 B 21 .. 24 i 21 -' \\. r 1909. ft ir fluji/l. Bulk ii - 21 2 i; 2 17 n in ; 21 '■ 21 7 _'i 2 I'' '. • ' ■ \l \l " N U 1 1 K. \ I Gblrka Spring I Red Pile m.. Mlnnesol i No 169 dlej \ elvel Chad. ■ ii So 51 .i 171 Minn. Minn, ota N II n - 11.8 21 ii 17 a 17 'i 18.0 n B 18.5 ie i 13 ii 12 l II B 14.0 9.9 II -. 17 7 17 S 16 2 17 2 17 ii 15 B 17 7 17 8 17 2 16 l ie i ii s Tabi b V Yield . \ /> in ki m W HE v r \ U ■ 1907.O 1908.0 1909. Hlii Kobank i. Rmhih. Iiu.ihrls. ■ - 17.6 Bushrl*. 30 1 Itll.'hrl.i. ."i ■» COMMON will 1M7 Ghlrka Spring 21.4 30.0 B - nmml Hop." \\ . r IgC .'I 'i -10 2 10 DRY-LAND GRAINS FOB NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. BEU.KHHHI III:. The highest average yield of spring wheat at Bellefourche is 23.2 bushels per acre, as shown in Table III. This was obtained from two strains of the Kubanka variety, G. I. No. 1440" (better known as S. P. 1. No. 5639) and (r. I. No. 1516.* Several other varieties have yielded nearly as much. Of the common wheats, Powers' Fife (G. I. No. 3025) has yielded the most, 17.9 bushels per acre, or 5.3 bushels less than the Kubanka. Rysting's Fife (G. 1. No. 3022) is a close second. The Bearded Red Fife, which has yielded well at Highmore, has not been included in these tests. Several strains of this valuable variety are being grown in the plant nursery. Some of these are very promising and will be grown in comparison with the other varieties a- soon a- sufficient seed i- obtained. HIGHMOHE. The Kubanka variety (G. I. No. 1516) has produced the highest average yield of the durum wheats at Highmore, 22.4 bushels per acre for the seven-year period from 1903 to 1909, as shown in Table IV. The Ghirka Spring, the only common spring wheat grown for the full period of seven years, gave an average yield of 14.5 bushels per acre. The Bearded Red Fife has produced the highest average yield of the common wheats for the five years from 1905 to 1909. Three varieties. Pedigreed Bluestem, Minnesota No. 169, and Okanogan Valley Velvet Chaff , have each produced an average yield of about 1.5 bushels below that of the Bearded Red Fife. The common and durum wheats have been grown on similar ground, with the exception of the 1909 crop. A comparison of yield of the two »roups in 1909 can not be made for that reason. The average yield of the Bearded Red Fife variety for the four years from 1905 to 1908 is 19.5 bushels per acre, or 7.5 bushels less than the yield of the Kubanka for the same period. The former, however, is at present, 1910, discriminated against by the millers, although not to the same extent as is the durum wheat. Its greater yield, as compared with other varieties of common wheat, is for that reason partly offset by the lower price usually received for it. The Kubanka variety averages nearly 9 bushels more than the Pedigreed Bluestem, the second common wheat in point of yield, an increase of more than 48 per cent. ' i. lain Investigations number. 6 The following strains of the Kubanka were obtained by Mr. M. A. Carleton: (i. I. No. 1440 in December, 1900, from Uralsk territory, Russia; (1. I. X". 1516, from the Paris Exposition in 1900 (originally from the Samara government, Russia); (!. 1. No. 1511 (S. P. 1. No lioiitii, from the Astrakhan government, Russia, in August, 1900; and (J. I. Nil L354 s P. I. No. 2758), from the Samara government, Russia, in 1808. [Cir. 59] I»i;\ LAND URAIN.S FOB NORTH \M> SOI Ml DAKOTA. 11 I'll kl\-"S li will be seen from Table V thai three durum wheal varieties, Kubanka, Wild Goose, and Nicaragua, have yielded practically the -ri nit- :i t Dickinson, 5 bushels per acre, respecth ly. The Kubanka produced the highest average yield in 1906,° which would bring it- average above thai of the others. The Ghirka Spring variet} (■ I No. 1517) has produced the highest averi yield of the common wheats and yielded the highest in 1907 and This. It has n<>t done so well al either Bellefourcl r rlighmore, altho during drj years it has exhibited drought-resistant properties. It- average yield, 25 bushels per acre, is 1.6 bushels less than the Kubanka, an increase for the latter of about I s percent. The Ghirka Spring i- a semihard Fife wheat introduced from Russia 1>\ this office, but -o far it has not been extensive!} grown. Although its milling qualit} has not been thoroughly tested, it promises well. The yield of the Kubanka al Dickinson is 5.8 bushels greater than the yield of the best Bluestem, or an increase of more than 24 per cent. ..1 \ I KM l'1-i I — l"\ The preceding discussion shows that Powers' Fife has been the highest yielding common wheal at Bellefourche, the Bearded Red Fife at rlighmore, and the Ghirka Spring at Dickinson. At each of the experiment farms the best yields of durum wheat have Keen obtained from one or the other of two 9trains of the Kubanka variety. (i I. No. 1 l Hi has given the highest \ i < • 1 < 1 at Dickinson, G. I No. 1516 at rlighmore, while the two strains have given the same yield at Bellefourche. Apparently there is little difference between the two strains, (i. I. No. 1440 is alightl) taller than (i. 1. No. 1516, and milling and baking tests conducted at the South Dakota Agri- cultural Experiment Station' indicate that it i- superior to the latter in this respect. Results are reported for onlj two years, and further tests in connection with the work al Bellefourche have -~hown much less difference between the two strains. Variety tests at other place- -how that while durum wheat should not he grown under humid conditions the Kubanka is even less adapted to wet seasons than some of the other varieties. Apparently the abundant precipitation during the past few seasons at the three experiment farm- ha- served to raise the average of other varieties in comparison with the Kubanka. Thus this variety (G. I. N<>. l 1 10) produced the highest yield of all the varieties at Bellefourche iii Firsl Innual Report of the Dickinson Sub-Experiment Station, L908, p. 13. '' Bulletins '•-' and 99, South Dakota Agrii ultural Experiment Station. I fir. 59] 12 DRY-LAND GRAINS FOR NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. 1908 (Table III), a dry year, but in 1009, a season of abundant precipitation, it was slightly exceeded in yield by other varieties. At Highmore in 1904, the driest year during which tests have been conducted, three strains of the Kubanka, G. I. Xos. 1440, 1516, and 1541, ranked in yield first, second, and third, respectively (Table I\ '). Likewise at Dickinson in 1909, with a rainfall considerably above the normal, the Kubanka was outvielded by other varieties. but in 1907, the driest year, it yielded the highest. "While such comparisons do not hold true for each year at each experiment farm, it appears that the Kubanka is better adapted than other varieties of durum wheat to dry climates and dry seasons. It is very prob- able that for a period of years during which the precipitation approaches more nearly the normal than has been the case during the past few seasons, or when the precipitation is below normal, the superiority of the Kubanka variety will he more clearly shown. COMPARISON OF DlRl'M AND COMMON 8PBINQ WHEAT. An important result of the variety tests is definite information concerning the comparative yields of durum and common spring wheat. It has been pointed out that the superiority in average yield of the best durum over the best common spring wheat has amounted to from IS to 48 per cent of the yield of the common wheat, the smallest difference being at Dickinson. As previously noted, the average precipitation at each experiment farm for the period during which these comparisons are made is from 1 to 5 inches above normal. This has undoubtedly resulted in a differ- ence less than would otherwise be the case, since it is only in dry years that the full value of the durum wheat becomes apparent. For example, at Highmore in 1906. with a seasonal precipitation of about 1 inch above normal, the difference in yield between the Pedigreed Bluestem variety and the Kubanka was 12.2 bushels. The increase from growing the Kubanka in this case amounted to about 75 per cent. In 1904, with a precipitation of about 4 inches below normal, the difference in yield in favor of the Kubanka amounted to nearly 100 per cent of the yield of the Pedigreed Bluestem. At Dickinson the driest year since the variety tests were begun was 1907. The difference in yield that season between the Kubanka and the Ghirka Spring varieties was 9 bushels per acre, and between the Kubanka and the Bluestem 12.9 bushels, or a gain for the Kubanka in the latter case of nearly 69 per cent. As the seasonal precipitation in 1907 was just about normal, it seems very probable [Clr. 59] DB1 LAND DRAINS mm; NOHTH wu 801 in DAKOTA. L8 thai for a series of yearn in which the average rainfall is about normal the difference in yield between the durum ami the common - j »ri 1 1-_- wheai at this point will be more than enough to offset the difference in price At Bellefourche the greatest difference in yield between the durum a in I the common spring wheat baa been obtained in the driest j ear. It 1 in~. Keen ahown that at the experiment farms under discussion, in seasons when the precipitation is about normal, the difference in yield between the besl durum and the beat common spring wheat amounts to from 25 to 75 per cent. In seasons when the precipita- tion is below normal the difference is greater. As previously mentioned, the value »>f durum wheal i- due to it- ability to resisl drought. Because of this quality it will usually produce profitable yields in years bo unfavorable thai no profit whatever is realized from the common Bpring wheal. In favorable years as much and usually more profit i- realized from the durum wheal. The present difference in price (15 to 20 cent'- per bushel) should not prevent the growing of durum wheat in the Great Plains, par- ticularly in those BOCtionS where winter wheat can Hot he grown. K\er\ farmer should insisl on obtaining the besl variety, Kubanka, and should then be very careful to keep it pure. This is particularly important where durum and common wheat are grown <>n the same farm, as the millers object to durum wheat containing even a Bmall proportion of common w heat . It ha- been fully demonstrated that bread can he made from durum flour that i- equal in quality to thai made from common Bpring w heat. The bread ha- a- high ii nut tit ive value, and though a little darker in color i- preferred by BOme to that made from common wheat. The dry-land farmer by using durum Hour and thus creating a demand for it and by growing only the besl variety of durum wheat and keeping it pure may bring it- price more nearly to the level of that of common spring wheat. w i\ rii: w ii i:a i Winter wheat ha- been tried at each of the three experiment farm-. hut only at Bellefourche ha- it proved a decided BUCCess. In both 1908 and 1909 good yield- were obtained. Both crops were BOWD on land broken in the spring of 1907, that for the 1909 crop having been summer-fallowed during 1908. Two plat- of each variety were -own in 1908, with the exception of the Crimean (■. I. No. [435 and the Kharkof (G. I. No. L583). One plat was sown September 15 and [Or. :.:>1 14 DRY-LAND GRAINS FOR NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. the other October .">. The average of all the plats of each variety is given in t he following table: Table VI. Yield per acn oj winter wheat grown >"i III l>\K been in fa\ or qf the winter wheat. The wintei wheal usuall} sells for the same price as the common spring wheat ami has the further advantage thai b) growing it the farmer is able in distribute his work over a greater part of the year. OATS Oats have had a prominent place in the experiments at all three experiment farm- Variet} tests have been conducted for two years at Bellefourche, for three at Dickinson, and for seven at Highmore. Tables VII, VIII. and IX shov the an una I and a\ erage \ ields of the different varieties at each experiment farm for these periods. Tablk VII. — Yield jn - ■ .. 1 No in • II UI - .- 8 / - 1 Yellow i ■ • ui' ii T.mii b VIII. — Yield jh 0. 1 - ll J Bush. Bu$h. - ; i>4 1 1 1 l - - Red Vlgi 18 * 17 8 4 ; 151 411 441 in Prolific IV, 154 Whit ii ; [Or. .V.I] a Not comparable with others. 16 DRY-LAND GRAINS FOR NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. TABLE IX. Yield pir urn of Oats (jroun nt the t.i jjir'niu < id farm, Dickinson, N. Dal:., from 1907 to 1909, inclusive. <;. I. No. 386 366 300 354 168 376 160 163 497 344 493 378 491 551 483 492 196 16S 134 Early Mountain. Kherson Black Brio White Tartarian. Canadian Heine's Prolific. . . Banner American Beauty. Black Mogul. . ..". Colden Rain . . . Beseler No. 1... Hvitling White Russian. Shatilovsky. . . . I.igowo Black Bell Sixty-Day Swedish Select. Variety. 1907.O 1908.a Bushels. Bushfls. 80.9 h 36. 8 79.0 47.5 75.3 48.1 68. 1 411 S 72.8 33.9 70.0 42.0 81.2 33.3 63. 1 40.2 46.8 41.6 48.4 41.6 50.9 46. 6 65.9 34.5 35.2 52.8 63. 1 32.0 42. 6 39.2 62.8 28.1 23.1 44.1 36.0 37.5 47.8 36.6 58.2 37.2 46. 9 1909. Bushels. 90.0 79.8 81.3 81.5 83.1 77.8 71.6 75.0 89.4 86.5 77.8 73.3 C82.2 69.7 78. 5 64.3 82.6 75. 3 40.0 81.3 Average. Bushels. 68.8 68.2 63.5 63.3 Ii3.3 62. 59.4 59.3 58.8 58.4 57.9 56. 7 54.9 51.8 51.7 49.9 49.6 41.5 " From First Annual Report o' the Dickinson Sub- Experiment Station, 1908. ' A verage of t bree check plats. e Average of four check plats. BEI.LEFOURCHE. The best yielding oat varieties at Bellefourehe are the Kherson and the Sixty-Day. They seem to be practically identical in both yield and appearance. The only difference noted is that the Kherson is one or two days later in maturing; than the Sixty-Day and is slightly taller. The average 3-ields are 36.4 and 36.3 bushels per acre, respectively. The Swedish Select ranks third, with a yield of 33.3 bushels per acre. Other varieties range in yield from 18.5 to 30 bushels per acre. HICHMORE. Only Sixty-Day and Swedish Select oats have been grown at High- more for the full period of seven years. In 1906 the former was grown on sorghum ground, and therefore was not comparable with the other varieties. A plat of the Swedish Select on sorghum ground by the side of the Sixty-Day yielded 42. S bushels per acre, or 22 bushels less than the plat of the same variety in the regular variety test. The average of the Swedish Select for seven years on ground comparable with the Sixty-Day is 41.5 bushels. The average yield of t he latter for the same period is 40.2 bushels. A four-year average from 1006 to 1909, inclusive, of all varieties (Table VIID shows the Kherson in the lead, with a yield of 41.5 bushels, and the Swedish Select a close second, with a yield of 41.3 bushels. Had the Sixty- Day been grown on comparable ground in 1906 it would undoubtedly have equaled either of these in yield. [Cir. 59] m;y LAND DRAINS FOR NORTH IND SOUTH DAKOTA. 17 DICKINSON The Earl} Mountain oal has produced the highest average yield at Dickinson, as shown in Table IX It ranked first in 1009 and sec I in 1907. («. I No t86 ranks Becond and the Kherson third for the three years. The average yield of ilir Kherson variet) is less than a bushel Ix'h'u that of the Earl} Mountain. Unfortunately, compar able yields have not been secured for the Sixt} Da} and the Swedish Select for t he lull period. OENEBAl i'i ■ ■ The preceding tables -I u >\\ that for the full period for which tests have been conducted the Sixt} Da} and the Kherson oat varieties have yielded the highest al Bellefourche, the Swedish Select at High- more, and the Earl} Mountain at Dickinson. The Kherson oat, which ha-- 1 n grown at Highmore for four years, has given the highest average yield for that period. The average yield of the Sixt D when grown "ii comparable ground is only slightl} less than that of the Swedish Select. At Dickinson the Kherson has yielded about a bushel less than the Marly Mountain, the highest yielding variet} at that place. The latter usuall} matures about ten days later than the former and therefore has the advantage in favorable seasons "f a longer period in which to mature. In general, early varieties are the mosl promising For the northern Great Plains. Over most of this area a light summer rainfall and high temperatures are the rule. Consequently, late oats are often injured l>\ drought and high temperatures al a critical stage of their development. The Sixty-Da} and the Kherson are good, early maturing varieties and will usuall} produce profitable yield-. The Swedish Select variety, which matures about ten days later than the Sixty- Day and the Kherson varieties, has given good yields wherever grown. In the northern portion of the area, with it- lower temperat ures and with conditions generally more favorable t>> the production of oats, it i- probable that later varieties i an I"- grown with equal succi BARl 11 Tables X. XI. and XII -how the yields of nine varieties <>f barley grown in field tests al Bellefourche, of fifteen at Highmore, and of eleven at Dickinson. The poorest varieties are continually being discarded and more promising ones added, so that the number grown each year \ aries [Cir. 59] IS DR1 LAND GRAINS FOR NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. Table X. Yield per acr< of barley grown at th( experiment farm, Belief ourche, S. Dak., in 1908 / 1909. Variety. 1908. 1909. A VI ! G. 1 per Yield. per Yield. Weigh! per bushel. Yield. 21 Banna ■row., do. ;:, 5 58 ii 29.0 1 2. (i 49.0 51.0 62.0 45. 5 51 ii 51.0 21. 1 17.3 9.6 9.0 19.8 22 1 22 1 19.2 51.5 47. 3 61.0 ea o Bushels. 26 4 do 21 7 643 Manchuria Six-row. .. Bull row... 21 7 262 13 w bite Hull li 10.5 182 do .,1 Two- row. . • ....do a Average ol i wo i Table XI. Yield per am of barley grown at iht experiment farm, TUghmore, S. Dak., from 1903 to 1909, inclusivi Variety. 1903 ! 1 V 2 11.0 In l 12.7 13 1 10. 1 1905. Bush. 50 6 16 'i 53. 5 51.7 54 .' 54 I 47.9 41.9 1907. 1908. 1909. A verage. G.I. Five years Seven years (1903- 1909). 24 Banna Two-row. . do 19 i 16 3 IK 1 ] . G is. 1 1 1. 1 15.6 10.6 Bush. 31.3 32. 7 so. r> ■27.7 21. I 21. l 21. G 21.5 18.5 26.0 22. 7 27.3 22. 7 22. 7 Bush. 38. i 28. l 26. l 22. 9 18.8 22 D 24. 1 27.7 32. 3 15.6 20.8 19.8 18.8 17.3 15.4 14.2 11.5 15.8 14.8 11.0 9.8 n 6 15 v 15 8 Bush. 32. 1 32. 1 31.9 31.2 29.0 27. J 32. 4 27.0 27 Bohemian. . - . 27.7 203 34 32 31 47 IN 531 Banna Hanna Pedigreed Bohemian. Horn Striegum Golden Melon Hannchen do do do do do ....do . do 27.1 26. ! 24. (, 2X9 530 Chevalier. . - do 529 in 8 17.9 532 Primus do 40.0 36.0 42. 3 Minnesota No. 6 Minnesota No. 105 Odessa Six-row . . . do ....do 16 8 182 Table XII. Ynlrf per am of barley grown at thi i cperiment farm, Dickinson, N. huh.. from I'm', to 1909, inclusirt . G. I. No. Variety. i i 1 28. :< 29.3 31.4 27. 22. I 17.7 A vei Two 1 34. 1 12 2 11.0 29.7 2.;. 2 lv.-, Three Hanna Two : . .do Bushtls 52 l 34. i Bushels. in. l 1 1. '4 19.2 in. l 34.4 531 187 .. do... 530 i. i 529 Prin 532 Primus 575 Gatami row... '■'< pounds in 1909. Only three sis rowed varieties have been grown. Of these the Minnesota No. 6 and the Odessa are the most promising. The Man churia, the onlj six-rowed variet) grown both seasons, has an average yield <>! 21.7 bushels, or 1.7 bushels less than that of the Hanna. The hull-less varieties have not yielded as well as might be expected from results secured elsev here. 1 1 1 ( ; 1 1 m 1 1 H i [n a seven-year test at Highmore, including nine varieties of barley, the Hanna (G. I. No. 24) leads, with a yield of 28.2 bushels per re (Table XI , In a five-year trial, including thirteen variel t lie* Hannchen (G. I. No. 531) has produced an average yield of 9 bushels, the highest for the period. The Bohemian (G. I. No. and the Chevalier (G. 1. No. 530 varieties are next in yield, having produced ■'!•"> and 32.4 bushels per acre, respectively. Only one rowed variety, Minnesota No. 6, has been grown for the entire seven-year period. Ii ranks fourth, with a yield of 26.6 bushels per acre. The Odessa, which has been grown but three years, has been the highest yielder of the six-rowed varieties for that period. DICKTN80N . Only five varieties of barley, including two each of the two-rowed and six-rowed types and one of the hull-less, were grown at Dickin- son in 1907. The Banna varietj (G. 1. No. 203 . with an average yield of in. I bushels, ranks first for the three years Table XII . The Imperial i- second, having produced 34.4 bushels jut acre. For this period the yield of the Gatami, the besl six-rowed variety, is 8.1 bushels belo^ thai of the Hanna. An average of all the varieties for two years shows the Hannchen (G. I. No. 531 to have been the best, with a yield of 13.2 bushels. The two varieties, Swan" Neck and Chevalier, yielded nearly as much. Mr M A.i arleton :' ' li.ni. in 1900: It came originally from Lib Austria. The Hanna <■ I ind S. P.I.I Mr. D.G.F lirchild in January . 190 k 20 DRY-LAND GBAINS FOB NORTH AXD SOUTH DAKOTA. For the three-year period the hull-less barley produced only a little more than half as much as the best two-rowed variety, and for the two-year period less than half. GENERAL DISCUSSION. At each experiment farm the two-rowed varieties of barley have given the best yields. The Hanna barley (G. I. No. 24) has given the highest average yield at Bellefourche and Highmore, but has not been grown at Dickinson. The Hanna, G. I. No. 203, a strain very similar to Hanna, G. I. No. 24, has given the highest yield at the latter place. The Hannchen variety (G. I. No. 531), which has been grown at Highmore for five years and at Dickinson for two years, has given the highest average yields for those periods. The principal disadvantage of the two-rowed varieties is that they do not command as ready a market as the six-rowed varieties. For feeding there is no appreciable difference between the two types. The varieties of two-rowed barley recommended for western North and South Dakota are the Hannchen and the Hanna (G. I. Nos. 531 and 24). The Odessa and the Minnesota No. 6 are appar- ently the best of the six-rowed varieties. RATE-OF- SEEDING TESTS. At Dickinson rate-of-seeding tests have been conducted for three years with durum wheat, two years with oats, and one year with common spring wheat. Tests with durum wheat, winter wheat, and oats were inaugurated at Bellefourche in 1909. The results at both experiment farms point to the conclusion that thick seeding up to a certain point produces a greater yield in favorable seasons, but in unfavorable seasons the thinner seeding does best. As much of the work has been done in favorable seasons the presen- tation of the results at this time would probably be misleading. An interesting point in connection with the test on winter wheat at Bellefourche is that seeding above 4 pecks per acre has increased the percentage of winterkilling. The thicker seeding reduces the supply of moisture available for each plant. During dry autumns the probable result is that the plants are weakened by the lack of moisture and for that reason are more easily killed. It is recommended that thin seeding be practiced. Not more than 5 pecks of durum wheat, 4 peeks of common spring wheat, or 3 or 4 pecks of winter wheat should be sown per acre. Barley and oats should not be sown thicker than (5 pecks per acre. Thinner seeding than this is often recommended and is perhaps advisable in most localities. While greater yields will be secured from thick r fir. 59] DB1 LAND GRAINS FOB NORTH >1 in DAKOTA. - J 1 seeding in favorable years, the gain will nol make up for the loan thai i- certain to occur in drj TIME OF SEEDING WINTER WHEAT \ tesl i" determine the besl time for »eeding winter wheal was begun mi tin- Bellofourche experimenl farm in the fall of 1907 and ha- been continued to the presenl time. The plan "I the experimenl involves sowing plats of the Turkey winter wheal al intervals of two weeks, from Angusl I •"> to November I . Sufficienl data have nol been Becured t" 9tate jusl when a farmer should bom his winter wheal t" secure the best results. Apparently it i- not usualh advisable t" seed later than October I. although ^•«><[ yields have been Becured li\ sowing later. In some localities and in some seasons the besl results will probabl} be obtained from seeding much earlier. WINTER WHEAT AND SUMMER-FALLOW. WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. The present indications are thai if winter wheal i- to become a paying crop in western South Dakota it must be grown on land Bummer-fallowed the previous season. This is due i<> the facl thai ordinarily the autumn rainfall is uol sufficient to germinate the grain and keep it growing vigorously until winter. Recent inves- tigations ai the Bellefourche experimenl farm indicate thai the amount <>f moisture in the soil from the time of seeding until winter, and the resulting vigor of growth are ven importanl factors in determining the \\a\ in which the crop withstands the winter. They are likewise important in determining the yield. A plat of the Turkey winter wheal <> I No 3055 was sown on corn ground in the fall of 1908, after the crop had been harvested with a corn binder. This produced al the rate of 23.5 bushels per acre, or _1 bushels less than the same variety sown on summer- fallow. A plal was 3own after corn in the fall of 1909. Because of dry weather this failed to germinate, as did several other plats -own on ground plowed a short time before seeding and not summer- fallowed. In 1908 th« plat on the corn ground was sown September 15, and in 1909 it was sown October 1. Throughout t!n> northern Great Plain- the precipitation after August i- usually very low. It doe- not seem possible, except during favorable year-, to conserve enough moisture in the soil to germinate and properly maintain a crop of winter wheat until the ground freeze- by any mean- other than summer-fallowing. r further information on : . Montana cultural Experimenl Station; Bulletin 109, V iltural Experin Station; and Bulletin 7t. Norl speriment - [Or. 59] ^ 22 DBY-LAND GBAINS FOB NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. Figure 1 illustrates the Turkey winter wheal on summer-fallow at the Bellefourche experiment farm in 190!). The value of summer- fallow for winter wheal is thai it is the surest means yet known for obtaining a crop in seasons of extreme drought, and at the same time appears to give larger yields in favorable seasons than can be obtained by any system of rotation that includes intertilled crops. Fig. 1.— Crop of Turkey winter wheat on summer-fallow at the experiment (arm, Bellefourche, S. Dak., 1909. The foreground illustrates the method of summer-fallowing for the next crop. MILLING AND BAKING TESTS. Milling and baking tests of the principal varieties of wheat grown at Bellefourche are being conducted in cooperation with the .North Dakota Agricultural College for the purpose of determining the relative value of the different classes and different varieties of wheat for bread making. By cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Chemistry of the United States Department of Agriculture, chemical analyses are made of all the varieties of wheat that are milled. I fir. 59] Dm [.AND MKAIM L'TII DAKOTA. ^ Results have been secured on about fift< the durum, the c moi ;,| the w inter w Ik ich year's crop. Because of the complexity of the problem and the short period for which the tests have been conducted, it seem* inadvisable to present the results at the present time U i sufficient to state that in vie* of the shou ing made in tin iouslj reported, the Kubanka durum wheat (G. I. Nos. 1516 and I 1 10) and Turkey G I. No 'nd Kharkof (Q. I. No. 1442 winter « ; i be recom- mended as the best varieties for trial in the northern Great Plains. SUMMARY. The experiments of the Office of Grain In tiona sho* that the success of the dry-land farmer will depend \. riallj upon tin' \ ariet ies of grain he selects for his farm. The variety tests herein reported sho* that with a normal rainfall durum wheat yields from 25 to 75 percent more than the best va- rieties of Bluestem and Fife. The indications are that in seasons of extreme drought this difference will be much greater. The difference in price need not cause apprehension on the part of the farmer. Ai the prevailing prices a greater profit will be secured from the durum u heat. Experiments conducted at Bellefourche and at experiment stations in other sections of the Great Plains indicate that there are extensive areas in the northern Greal Plains where winter wheat can be suc- sfully grown. In these areas it will be a profitable crop, since it yields as well as durum wheal and commands a highei price on the market. Recent investigations show that varieties differ remarkablj in the manner in which they withstand the winter. Ii would therefore b< waste "I time and money for the farmer to attempt to groM am but the verj I> ^=C0 > K o (/) ^^^ MM CM IT — z 3 CI §g§j 24 DRY-LAND GRAINS FOB NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. CONCLUSIONS. For the region herein discussed, western North and South Dakota. the following conclusions are drawn: (1) The success of the dry-land farmer will depend verj largely upon the selection of varieties adapted to his conditions. (2) Durum wheat is a more profitable crop than common spring wheat. The best variety is the Kubanka (G. I. No. 1440 or G. I. No. 1516). (3) Winter wheat should be grown wherever it will survive the winter. The best varieties are the Turkey (G. I. No. 3035) and the Kharkof (G. I. No. 1442). (4) Early or medium maturing varieties of oats, such as the Sixty- Day, the Kherson, and the Swedish Select, should he grown. (5) Two-rowed barleys yield better than the six-rowed varieties. The best two-rowed barleys are the llanna (G. I. Nos. 24 and 203) and the llannchen (G. 1. No. o.'A). The best six-rowed barleys are the Odessa and the Minnesota No. G. Approved: James Wilson. Secretan/ of Agriculture. Washington, D. C, March SI, 1910. [Cir. 59] o