The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-01-15
WHAT the 0EPL or
AGRICULTURE IS DOING
Mapping Wheat Varieties.

Iar ar-. history of
wheat .-.ar- r America Il, VIII
e,ar 5. qas-.a.e tau .r t.a dt~Jtbu-
tfoa of aa.ar varieties arl 70 learn
The large NUMBER OF names under
which 'he same varieties are known
in different parts Of the country. This
result has been maie possible by a
comprehensive survey Of varieties
made by the United States Dept
of Agriculture. thrpu-h Tie Bureau
of Plant Industry and the Bureau Of
Crop Estimates working in coop
GRAFTON. Schedules were sent To about
$1,000 crop reporters TO determine
the distribution Of wheat varieties,
the source from which they came,
the date Of their introduction into the
community, the percentage which each
represents Of the total wheat acreage
in tie community. The returned
schedules have been studied, and
about a thousand letters Of inquiry
have been sent asking for additional
information and samples.
Electrocution for Insects.
Ele~ctrocution Of insects infesting
packed cereals will result in great
savings to producers and consumers
if expectations are realized, says the
Bureau Of Entomology OF the United
States Department of Agriculture,
which has been carrying on work OF
this nature. A commercial machine
for s|terilzing cartons Of cereals after
the latter have been sealed has been
installed in a large cereal factory,
with every promise Of practical value,
Experimental work to determine
the usefulness of fumigation in less
ening or preventing the enormous
waste taking place through insect at
tack to stored goods in warehouses,
though as yet extending over only a
short period, has yielded practical re-
suits OF great value. The value o.
c~old-storage temperatures in prevent
ing insect damage has already been
proved. Detailed data regarding the
effect of low temperatures upon var
ious insects attacking stored products
are being secured.
Why Plant Corn Early?
Earlier planting OF large. product
i've varieties Of corn is frequently
much more profitable than the nor
nal planting Of early maturing vari-
cites. Proof Of this has been obtain
ed in many instances, announces the
Chief of the Bureau Of Plant Indus
try, United States Department Of Ag-
ri~culture. in reporting en- the results
of experiments conducted to demon
strate the practicability and value Of
the earlier planting Of corn, By much
earlier than the normal planting it
has been found that larger varieties
can be probably grown for ensilage
in northern localities with much bet
ter yields than can be had from the
smaller native varieties planted at the
usual date.
In the South, by planting small
short-season varieties earlier than
normal, much earlier maturity can be
secured. afording a supply of corn
for very early feeding, Many rather
soft varieties that rot badly when
planted late produce sound corn when
planted early in southern localities.
The planting Of short and long sea-
son varieties in alternate rows has in
creased yields where moisture is a
limiting factor.
Varieties differ, it has been found,
in their ability TO adopt themselves
and their grain production to varying
stands. Prolific varieties, when Civ
en- increased space, have shown abil-
ity to increase their grain production
much more satisfactorily than have
the single ear varieties, because OF
their ability to make up for defcien-
cy in stand.
The studies made by the depart
ment specialists have resulted in iso-
lating uniform types within a vari-
ETY.. 1t has been found that ~so-called
varieties of corn are largely conglom-
crates Of many distinct types, and to
arrive at basic facts in breeding work
it is necessary to ~segregate these uni
form types.
May Grow All Our Figs.
1t is not improbable that this coun-
try will soon produce all the figs ii
needs. This statement is made by the
Chief Of the Bureau Of Plant Indus
try, United States Department Of Ag.
riculture, in his report on the pro
gress Of Smyrna fg culture in Calf
ornia. Much Of the success of this
enterprise has been due to the fact
that the department has been able tC
maintain a capfrifg orchard at Loom