Middletown transcript., 1919-09-27
WHEAT FOR SEEDING
Experimenting During IL Years
Shows Interesting Facts
REARDED VARIETIES ARE BEST

The result of growing large numbe
of varieties of wheat at the Delawar'
Station during the past II years na'
shown some interesting facts VIII
reference to the performance OF beard
cd versus smooth varieties OF wheat
It has been found that the beardee
wheats have a tendency to tiller more
freely than the smooth. At the same
time the bearded wheats as a group
have Welded as an average for the
twelve years between three to four
husheIs more than the smooth wheats.
This is largely due to the less variation
in yie'd from year to year with bearded
varieties. 1t seems that the smo Tn
wheats are more sensitive to more un-
favorable conditions of culture or sea-
son. than are the bearded. This mas
been noted for some time past in the
studv of varieties of wheat which were
grown the same var on fertlllzed ana
on uniertiiized land This season the
results secured by farmers throughout
the state indicate that the hearced
wheats were more resistant to- disease
and were less effective by IN. unfaVor-
able weather conditions than were the
smooth. 1t is not to be supposed that
the smooth Wheats will not yield as
well, or sometimes little better than
some of the bearded wheats, under ex-
tremely favorable conditions.
It will be noted that 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 sea-
son. Often in the same field the beard
ed wheat would produce plump. sound
kernels, while the smooth wheats were
small or badly shriveled. :.
Smooth wheats will generally do well
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 will be more effected than a
bearded variety under the same con-
ditions. As result of close observa-
ton and study the Station recommends
the following varieties of bearded
wheat as most satisfactory for Della
ware conditions: Dietz Amber, Gypsy,
Mediterranean, Red Wonder, Reliable,
Rudy.
The smooth varieties which have
given the best results are: Currell
Prolific, Harvest King, Leap Prolific,
Poole.
A menace to good yield of high
quality of 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 care
fully screened and famed and given the !
formalin treatment the chances for a |
large yield 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 solution of |
one pound (pinD of formalin to fifty |
gallons Of water until thoroughly moist,
but not wet enough to drip. Stir the
seed repeatedly to distribute the !
moisture evenly, then shovel into pile
and cover with sacks or canvas for two |
hours. Spread in thin layer to dry,
stirring frequently. Sacks, drills, or
other receptacles should be disinfected |
with the same solution before filling
with the treated seed.
One pound (pint) of formalin when
made up with water, will treat forty to
fifty bushels of wheat.
A. E. GRANTHAM, Agronomist,
Delaware Experiment Station,
Newark, Delaware.