The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-03-13
BETTER VARIETIES AND .
BETTER SEED REQUIRED

"0OAAA6tOu, ~. v8F10tl0H
and seed are required for r i'm
provement in and around South Dako.
ia, where the small grain crops are
one OF the chief sources of wealth.
There is now far too much land farm
ed by short-term renters, who care lit
tie about crop or soil improvement,
and it rests largely with the land own.
ers whether or not the yields per acre
are to be increased. These are some
OF the conclusions Of the scientists
who have been studying conditions for
a decade at the South Dakota expert
ment Station of the Department of
Agriculture. The information also
should be Of direct interest to North
Dakota, Iowa and Montana.
Adapted varieties are very important
in a climate like that of South Dako-
ia, and therefore, as a result of it's in
vestigation. the Department of Agri-
culture recommends the following va
rfeties of wheat, oats and barley for
that state:
l. Wheat-Kubanka durum &C. l..
No. 1440), Haynes Bluestem (Minn.
No. 1857, Red Fife &C. 1. No. 3OS1), and
Fife (Minn. No. 1852.
2. Oats-Swedish Select &C. l. No.
134) and Sixty-Day &C. /. No. 1857.
3. Barley-(a) For the eastern dis
trict: Manchuria (Minn. No. 1861 and
Odessa &C. I. No. 1922. (b) For the
central district: Hannchen &C. /. No.
531). (c) For the western district:
Gatami &C. l. No. 575), Mariout &C. l.
No. 261). and related varieties.
To obtain the fullest return from
the use of these varieties the seed
must be kept pure and up to 4 high
standard Of quality.
The production of wheat during the
past decade has not increased In South
Dakota, although that of oats and bar
ley has doubled. There is usually suf-
ficient moisture to produce these
crops, though the frequent periods Of
high evaporation do considerable dam
age, particularly in the central and
western portions Of the state. The
soils OF South Dakota east Of the Mis-
souri, river are for the most part well
suited to cereal production. Those
west OF that river are extremely varia-
BILE, though some are Of valre for grain
growing.
Although the figures showing the
increase Of oats and barley are i'm
pressive, It does not imply that there
is no further opportunity for improve.
ment in South Dakota. The acre
yields not increased during the decade
where the same, %fluctuating according
to the quantity and distribution Of the
rainfall. Future increase in produc-
ton, however, must come largely
through increased yields per acre, for
there is relatively little new land
available for the profitable production
OF these crops. The present average
Yields Ire
Wheat, IL bushels per acre; oats.
1858 bushels per acre; barley, 23.S
bushels per acre.
These are not enough. Production
must be increased to keep pace with
the constant increase OF population.
In such a condition the main require
ments for crop improvement are the
following:
l.. Better varieties.
2. Better seed.
8. Better rotations.
4. Better soil treatment.
8. Better tillage and cultivation.
s. Better economic conditions.
The first two essentials mentioned
better varieties and better seed
are thoroughly discussed in the new
publication Ut the Department Of Az
riculture entitled: Experiments with
Wheat, Oats, and Barley in South Da-
kota." The new pamphlet gives the
details OF the work at the South Dako.
ia Experiment Station since 1908. with
tables and illustrations. It
may be had free on application to the
Division OF Publications, u. s. Depart.
ment Of Agriculture. Washington. D.
C.
Note-This bulletin was written BY
Manley Champlin, Of the State College
Agronomy Department.-Agri. Editor.