Milford chronicle., 1913-09-12
The BEST VARIETY OF WHEAT.

Successful wheat growing in Delaware
depends much on the variety used. Our
climate is such that the frequent rains
and excessive humidity at the time wheat
is blossoming and filing often seriously
affects the corp. Certain fungous diseases
10 which wheat is subject will often de-
velop under those conditions which will
lessen the Weld and quality OF the grain.
Studies al the Experiment Station show
that some varieties are more or less re-
sistent TO weather variations and give
high yield with greater regularity. In
general it appears that the bearded va
rieties are more dependable in yield from
year 10 year. While it is true that some
of the smooth varieties make a good
yield certain seasons, yet they will make
a greater slump in yield than will
the varieties of the bearded type under
the same conditions. The Department
of Agronomy of the Delaware Station
has tested over 100 varieties during the
past years and found that OF the 10
leading varieties in yield 9 have been
DGdIQEAls EllQuk AAG GNaA0NA vain
that have Welded well may be mentioned,
the Gypsy, Rudy, Red Wonder, Lehigh,
Lancaster, Farmers Friend, Lebanon,
Auburn Red, and Valley. The smooth
varieties which have done best are Per-
fection, Currell's Prolific, Poole and
Early Ripe.
Experiments seem to indicate that
wheats of the bearded type will yield
L
poor soil. Under heavy fertilization the
difference is not so marked.
The grower should beware of buying
seed. wheat merely because the variety
made a good yield for his neighbor for
particular season. ANY variety may
do well when soil and season are just
right. 1t is impossible to measure on
the relative Welding capacity of varieties
of wheat unless they have been grown
on the same soil and under the same
conditions of fertilization for a number
of wears. The only place where such
work is done is at the various state eX
perment stations and the grower should
carefully study the results of these tests
before buying seed wheat promiscuOusly.
Newly introduced varieties of wheat are
often in demand among farmers if their
initial yield has been good. However,
this does not establish their claim to
superiority for reasons mentioned above.
Recently many inquiries have been re-
ceived by this Station regarding the
merits of the Miracle or Stoner wheat.
This variety has been grown for four
years by the Delaware Station and care
fully tested as regards rate of tillering,
thickness of seeding, etc. 1t is claimed
by the promoters of this variety that a
less quantity of seed per acre is required
than with the standard varieties. The
variety does tiller well but not more so
than some other well established vari
cites. In fact, Mediterranean, Lehigh
and Rudy develop tillers as freely as the
Other varieties than the Mir
acle might be sown at a less rate with the
same results. This season, a bearded var
iety, Auburn Red, was tested by sowing
at various rates per acre, from 2 to s
peCks. The two peck seeding gave as
high Weld as the six peck seeding and
somewhat more than the eight peck
seeding.
Some varieties recently tested by the
Station give promise of being well adapt
ed. These are Auburn Red, bearded, and
Leaps Prolific, smooth.
AS the variety OF wheat OItSu makes
difference of to 10 bushels per acre it |
pays to get seed of a we'll known strain.
The fixed charges OF growing a wheat
crop are about the same whether the yield
be Is bushels or Is bushels per acre in |
the u 5. is about IA bushels, and as it
costs 10 to L dollars per acre to grow
wheat it will be seen that there is little |
profit under IS bushels per acre. Hence, |
some attention paid TO the variety of
wheat will often determine the profit |
per acre. A. +. GRANTHAM,
Del. Agric. Expt. Station.