Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1912-10-26
RAISING NEW GRAINS.
Seed Breeding Farms Being Estab-
lished for Benefit of Farmers.

ture has probably been developed with
more rapidity in the northwest than
III any other part of the country This
Is due III part to the activities of the
government reclamation service and
to private enterprise in providing wa
ter with which to irrigate what were
before large tracts of arid lands. For
the most part these lands have been
settled by experienced farmers from
the rain belts.
With the opening of the Big Horn
Basin to settlers by reason of the sew
eral irrigation projects, Prof. b. c.
Buffum established near Worland a
plant and seed breeding farm, writes
Robert Bonewell in the Country Gen
tleman. Mr. Buffum is strictly pro
duct of the West and for several
years prior to establishing his expert
ment farm was an instructor in the
agricultural colleges of both Colorado
and Wyoming During his experiment
tai work at the State stations he be
came convinced that he had discov-
cred the proper methods OF improv-
ing and producing new grains. After
carefully examining the different sec
tons OF the west he chose the present
site of his operations for the reason
+ that the altitude. the variety of soils
/ and the climate furnish the proper
conditions for breeding the hardest
grains.
The most important experiments
have been with emmer-a grain be
/ longing to he wheat family-which
differs from wheat. however. in having
two kernels of grain each spikelet and
/ staying in the hull when threshed, like
barley. 1t is a feed for fattening cat
/ tie. horses. sheep and swine. Spring
cmmer. often wrongly called spelt, ha,
I been grown successfully in the west
/ for a number OF years, proving to be
/ of considerable value The winet
emmer is new and more valuable
/ grain recently introduced from Rus
STA by the department of agriculture
As rule. winter grains give larger
/ yields can be produced more cheaply
/ and succeed with much less moisture
/ Professor Buffum secured some o
! the first black emmer seed introduced
( into this country and by applying
/ plant breeding methods has secure,
( and improved variety that promises to
/ become one of the important winter
/ grains. BY placing the winter emmei
( under the influence of unusual condi
tons of soil and treatment he so dis
turbcd its appearance, constitution
and habit that number OF mutations
/ or sports. were secured. These have
given rise to such Improvement tina
/ those acquainted with the original EN-
mer would hardly recognize the new
( 1t is larger, darker. heavier in straw
and head and more prolific. Many o
the heads double the spikelets, givinf
the appearance of composite wheat
Single heads weigh i'll many instance
a half ounce So prolific is this grain
that in four seasons the yield has in
creased from the first sporting plant
to twenty thousand bushels this year
1t seems TO be as hardy as winter rye
and its severe test in different part
OF the northwest demonstrates that il
has solved the stock-fe feeding problem
? 81. r tI,.
stock near the range. whereas Prev
ously the grower had to finish hi,
stock for market in the corn belt
States.
The grain RECEIVERS well in the
spring and the heavy straw prevent
falling. so common in most grain
where windstorms are frequent during
the growing season. Its stooling pow
err is remarkable In field last sea
son one stool was noted containing
sixty-ive straws. most OF which haf
headed A hundred bushes to the
acre was the average for the different
fields grown last season, although one
field on exceptionally good ground
made $50 bushels and parts probabl,
made as high as POO bushels.
This grain has held its improved
character for four years, which gives
confidence in its future 1t can be
grown anywhere that winter wheat
can be grown, and the enormous yield
should make it a NOSE valuable add
ton to our grain crops. The seed has
been well distributed over the winter
wheat belt, and the coming season
will demonstrate its possibilities TO
wide area. Experiments have shown
that this improved winter emmer has
food value relatively greater than
oats for horses. Moreover, the ground