Newark post., 1919-09-17
WHAT IS THE BEST
VARIETY OF WHEAT
FOR SEEDING?
Bearded Variety More Resist
ant to Disease and Weather
Changes Says Agronomist

number of varieties of wheat at
/ the Delaware Station during the
paSr - years has shown some in
tercSting facts with reference to the
performance of bearded versus
smooth varieties of wheat. It has
been found that the bearded wheats
have tendency TO tillcr more
freely than the smooth. At the
same tim9 the bearded wheatS as
a group have yielded as an average
for the twelve years between three
to four bushels more than the
smooth whcatS. This is largely due
to the less variation in yield from
year to year with bearded varieties.
II seems that the SmoOth> whcatS are,
more NcuSitivc'to more mfavorable
conditions of culture or season.
than are the bearded This has
been noted for some time past in
the study of varieties of wheat
which were grown the same wear
on fortified and unfcrtilized land.
This season the results secured by
farmers throughout the state indi-
cate that the bearded whcatS were
more resistant to disease and were
less effected by the -mfavorahle
weather conditions than were the
smooth. It is not to be supposed
that the smooth whcatS will not
yield as we'll. or sometimes a little
better than some of the bearded
whcatS. under extremely favorable
conditions. This year on the fcrtil-
ity platS the quality of the smooth
wheatS was badly affected in almost
every instance except where the
proper balance Of fertilizer was
used.
The bearded variety was far less
effected in the size of kernel than
Leap Prolific. the smooth variety.
The same general trend was noted
in the samples Of wheat secured
from various farms in the state this
season. often in the same field the
bearded wheat would produce
plump. sound kernels. while the
smooth whcats were small or badly
Shrivelcd.
Smooth whcatS will generally do
we'll on land that is fertile. that
is, provided with the proper balance
of plant food If nitrogen is in
excess the quality of the grain viii
be more effected than a bearded
variety under the same conditions.
As a result of close observation and
study the Station recommends the
following varieties of bearded
wheat as most satisfactory for Del
aware conditions:
Dictz Amber Red Wonder
Gypsy Reliable
Mediterranean Rudy
The smooth varieties which have
givcn best results are:
Currcll Prolific Leap Prolific
Harvest King Poole
\ menace TO good yield of
high quality wheat is the presence
of "bunt" or "Stinking smut
This fungus disease can be easily
controlled if the proper measures
are taken to treat the seed. If the
grain is carefully screened and
famed and given the formalm
treatment the chances for large
WELD of prime quality are greatly
increased. The following method
is used for combating sinking
smut:
Spread the seed on a clean floor
or canvas and sprinkle with a Solu-
ton of one pound (pint) of forma-
lin to fifty gallons Of water mtil
thoroughly moist, hut not wet
enough to drip. Stir the seed re
peatedly to distribute the moisture
evenly, then shovel into a pile and
cover with sacks or canvas for two
hours. Spread in a thin layer to
dry, stirring frequently, Sacks.
drills, or other rcceptacleS should
be disinfected with the same Solu-
ton before filing with the treated
seed.
One pound (pint) Of formalin
when made mp with water, will
treat forty to fifty bushels of wheat.
A. f. GRANTHAM. Argonomist.
Del. Experiment Station.
Newark, Delaware.