Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1908-03-06

oSiA@oAloAoA SA0A0 pa oAA = ~ sA~
great drawbacks to our state at
the present time is that corn will
not ripen aud mature here. Ex-
cellent corn can be grown fer
fodder, but so far all attempts to
produce the grain have been fall
ures. It is by no means an i'm
possible task to breed corn that
will flourish in the Willamette
Valley. The problem will be to
develop hardy variety that will
adapt itself to our peculiar eli
matte conditions. IF this is ac-
complished it goes without saying
that it will greatly enhance the
agricultural value of the state, es-
pecially in regard to the raising
of fat stock.
Another intensely interesting
undertaking is the wheat breed
ing experiment which was begun
last fall, when selected seed from
about one hundred varieties of
wheat was planted. The seed
from these paintings will form
the foundation stock for the wheat
breeding trials. From these
hundred varieties those will be
selected which have the highest
and most uniform yield and
which have the best adaptability
to soil and climatic conditions.
From these superior varieties a
number of Individual plants will
be selected according to their
merits. These plants will be Sc
lected in the field before harvest.
The heads of these selected plants
will be carefully examined and
compared in the laboratory and
the best grains or seeds will be
selected from each head of each
variety. These seeds will be
planted in head rows, in tlipli-
cate. Then from the best yield
ing head rows and from the plants
of best quality and adaptabilitv
in each row will be selected the
following years breeding seed
and thus in few years seed can
be developed which will be better
adapted to soil and climatic con-
ditions and which will produce
much larger yields. Large crops
of this superior wheat will then
be raised and distributed to the
farmers throughout the state.
A similar extensive trial of
some two hundred varieties of
vetch seed will be undertaken
this year, The object will be to
determine which varieties are best
suited to this valley, and to breed
up and increase the yield.
A selection and breeding ex-
pertinent with kale will also be
undertaken. Heretofore nothing
has been done in Oregon along
these lines with this most valu-
able crop. Indeed, many farmers
have been in the habit of sending
to Europe each year for their kale
seed. There is no reason why
Oregon should not produce just
as good if not better kale seed
than England or Germany and
this experiment will most likely
furnish ample proof of Oregou's S
superiority as a producer of kale.
Experiments will also be con-
Quoted with the growth of other
crops suitable for winter dairy
feed; and experiments will be car
ried on to determine the value OF
irrigation in the Willamette Val
ley, and the experiments begun
some years ago with short and
long rotation OF crops will be con-
tinued.
A valuable part of the college
farm has been set aside for the
new dairy barn and for the new
poultry plant, the higher, better
drained portions being given owe r
to these new buildings. 1t IS
hoped, however, to put the re-
naming part of the farm IN bett: r
shape for experimental work by
installing a thorough drainage
system,