The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-11-10

tion of crops or soil drainage. Quite
often if farmer had good crop it
was not due to his knowledge of the
adaptability of certain soils to a
particular crop, but was due to guess
work. The station by means Of DEM
onstration, plots, through conference
with the farmers, through meetings
and through bulletins, has taught
the farmer that proper tillage of clay
soils, preferably fall blowing, GER
tain crops for certain soils, crop. ro-
tation and drainage are. certain to
bring results, As much Of the clay
land is fiat the question Of drainage
| is an important one. The station
has shown that best results are OBJ
tanned on this heavy clay land by
blowing the fields in narrow lands,
leaving open dead burrows. Many
| of the farmers have learned that
drainage is necessary in dry seasons
as well as wet seasons and while
most Of them use open bitches, a
number of them are putting in tile.
Not only have the problems of land
clearing and drainage been solved,
but by carrying on close study of
soil conditions the farmers have been
aided in the selection of the best and
the most profitable crops to be pro-
duced, such as the selection Of the
proper grains for this region. On
account of the shortness Of the sea-
son and climatic conditions, is is of
the utmost Importance that these
grains which mature earliest shall be
selected. In this the station has been
most helpful Farmers are encour-
aged to. plant only those crops which
it has been determined by the closest
study are best adapted to the region;
of which the following are the most
Important: peas, other legumes,
wheat, oats and barley.
Peas and Other Legumes
The work in pea breeding at the
Ashland Junction station is very ex-
tensive, being the largest pea ex-
pertinent station in the country. In
the experimental work on peas at this
station nearly every variety has been
tested out, and crosses have been de-
lveloped which show marked improve
ment and adaptability to this re-
gion.., The object sought has been to
find variety that will excel in
disease resistance, guilty and yield
vigor and manner of growth, uni
formity of vine and podding habit,
advantageous blossoming, ripening
and canning dates and correct feed
type, seed size and seed uniformity
Of the new varities bred, the Horal
l(11.15) which is cross between the
Horsford and the Alaska, in which
the small seed type of the Alaska is
combined with the sugar content Of
the Horsford, giving small seed OF
good quality, high yield and excellent
vine type, has proven its superiority
over others. Another variety Bad.
ger (31.14) showing good quality
vine type and high yield, has also
been produced as well as other vari.
ties adapted to this locality. The
fact that $40 separate strains, ia
variety tests, and 46 small lots are
found in the pea nursery, indicates
the Importance of pea breeding at
this station.
The study of clover has been given
considerable attention at the station
A few years ago it was found that
large yields of clover winter killed
The station took up the question .o1
seed and definitely established that
foreign seeds were less hardy and die
not survive the winter, so that today
The farmer in this section selects
home grown seed. Similar expert
ments have been carried on with al
falfa Different varieties, inocula-
ton and lining tests have been made
with the result that alfalfa is becom-
ing an important crop in this section
Wheat
The station has carried on extern
sixe experiments in developing suit
able varieties of wheat for the north
ern part of the state. The result OF
this work has led to the selection OF
two varieties, viz: No. 408 winter
wheat and No. NIGH spring wheat
Without question, these two varie-
ties Of wheat, as far as resistance to
rust is onco1ael, are unsurpassed
Many crosses and sections have
been tested w;sa the object Of devel-
oping a type which is hardy and high
yielding. So highly developed are
these new varieties of wheat that the
station has induced most If the farm
ers in the northern part OF the state
to use only the varieties recommend
ed. The farmers are given this in
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