Davenport, Eugene

Fraser, Wilber John

English

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LI E> R.AR.YOF THECIRCULATINGCHECK FOR UNBOUND0?RCUUTING COPY.CIRCULATINGCHECK FOR UNBOUNDCIRCULATING COPY,UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS,Agricultural Experiment StationURBANA, MARCH, 1896.BULLETIN NO. 41.CONTENTS.EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT, 1888-95.EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1888-95.EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT 1888-1895.Experiments with wheat conducted at this Station and hereinreported are comprised under the following numbers and titles :No. 53. Effect of Time and Manner of Harvesting.No. 65. Quantity of Seed per Acre.No. 66. Time of Sowing.No. 69. Effect of Fertilizers in Southern Illinois.No. 116. Test of Varieties.The present bulletin reports not only the results of experi-ments of 1894-95 but brings together what seem to be the teach-ings of previous experiments at this Station. On the next page-is given a table of temperatures and rainfall from January 1889 toDecember 1895, inclusive, for the benefit of those who desire toconsider the effect of meteorological conditions upon the experi-ments reported.Experiment No. jj. Effect of Time and Manner of Harvesting.This experiment was conducted for four years. Of each cut-ting some 20 Ibs. of fresh material was dried in the sun ; the sameamount was dried in the shade, in imitation of binding and shock-ing; and from an equal amount the heads were removed and driedin the shade.M7HULLKTIX NO. 41.MKTEOROLOGICAL RKCORDS, 1889-1895.TEMPERATURE, DEGREES, FAHRENHEIT.[March,1889189018911892189318941895i896.J EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT, 1894-5. 149TABLE i. COMPARATIVE WEIGHTS OF GRAIN FROM AN KQUAL NUMBKR OF HI.AUS(lOO to 200) CUT AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF MATURITY, AND CURED IN THREEWAYS: FIRST BY COMPLETE SEPARATION OF HEAD FROM STRAW; SECOND, BYCURING IN THE SHADE ATTACHED TO THE STRAW; THIRD, BY DRYING IN THESUN, ALSO ATTACHED TO THE STRAW. THE HEAVIEST WEIGHT IN EACH SKPA-KATE YEAR is TAKEN AS THE BASIS, AND ALL OTHER WEIGHTS ARE EXPRESSEDIN PERCENTAGES.Date of cutting.150 iu LLETIN NO. 41. [March,One of the questions raised in this experiment relates to theextent of the formation of dry matter in the kernel after cutting.It will be noticed that in every case either in the watery or themilk stage the weights were greater when the heads were driedupon the straw than when they were removed and dried separately.The average difference was 6 per cent, with drying in the sun, andover II per cent, with drying in the shade. After the dough stagethe facts are not so evident. At the dough stage and after, if anyadvantage is had from curing on the straw, it is not shown clearlyby the figures, although curing in the shade seems decidedlypreferable to curing in the sun. From the fact that the weights ofgrain when dried in the shade are in nearly every case higher thanwhen dried in the sun, and average decidedly higher, there is somereason to believe that the formation of dry matter may continueafter cutting, if the plant be protected from sudden drying in thesun.The apparent loss in dry matter in both the second and thirdcolumns of 1891, between the dough stage and full ripening, is con-fusing, particularly so because the first column indicates an increase.That there should be in any case a transference from grain back tostraw as here indicated would seem impossible.Upon the question of transference of material and accumula-tion of dry matter in the grain after cutting, as well as upon therelative capacity of slowly cured and rapidly dried grain for atmos-pheric moisture, more work will be done by the Station beforehazarding definite statements.Experiment No. 65. Quantity of Seed Per Acre.Since 1888 the Station has conducted experiments on differentamounts of seed per acre. The attempt has been made to securea seeding of an exact number of pecks, from 3 to 9, inclusive. Itbeing impossible to sow accurately a definite amount, the drill wasset as nearly as possible for the desired seeding and the exactweight of seed sown recorded as in the following table.In attempting to determine from these experiments the mostfavorable amount of seed we are confronted by confusing data.For the six years of the experiment five pecks was the only seed-ing that secured the greatest yield more than once, and of theseven rates of seeding all the others were once successful, except-ing the seven and the nine pecks. A more confusing table couldnot be constructed. The present season the greatest yield was had1896.] EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT, 1894-3.TABLE 3. INFLUENCE OF VARYING AMOUNTS OF SEED, 1894-1895.PlatNo.152 BULLETIN NO. 41. [March.scries of years to establish any one of them in the definite positionof the highest average.Attempting to determine whether good or bad seasons areinfluential in this matter we meet only confusion, as will be noticedby the most casual study of the yearly averages and the distribu-tion of best yields. Upon the whole these figures indicate that nosingle rate of seeding should be looked to as the most favorablebut that for amounts between 5 and 7 pecks, inclusive, there is nochoice, the habit of stooling being entirely competent to supply adeficiency within this limit.Experiment No. 66. Time of Sowing.TABLE 5. RESULTS OF SEEDING AT DIFFERENT DATES, 1894-95.flatNo.1 896.] EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT, 1894-5. 153a date which in no instance produced the highest yields is sig-nificant. Another coincidence that seems to be significant is thatthe years in which the later sowing was most successful were theyears of highest yields, that is to say the best seasons. Therehappens to be a wide difference between the yields of these threebest seasons, and those of the other two. This difference amountsto over 10 bushels per acre. In the poorest seasons the best yieldsare had from the earliest sowing. From sowing after October 5ththe yield was good in the best seasons although never first, andin only one instance was it second best, though its nearest neigh-bor was successful three years out of five.In most cases the heaviest yields of grain accompany theheaviest yields of straw, although in the column of averages itdoes not appear as a principle.Experiment No. 69. Effect of Fertilisers in Southern Illinois.For a number of years the Station conducted fertilizer experi-ments with wheat at various points in southern Illinois.TABLE 7. INFLUENCE OK SUPERPHOSPHATE, AND OF STABLE MANURE UPON THEYIELDS OK WHEAT IN THE CLAY SOILS OF FLORA AND ODIN, AND ON THE TYPICALWHEAT LANDS AT BELLEVILLE.Fertilizer154 BULLETIN NO. 41. \March,TABLE S. CHARACTKR AND YIELD OK DIFFERENT VAKIKTIES ^i WHEAT, 1894-95.ta7.I345678910ii1213M15161718J 92021222324252627282933132333435363738^9404i424344454647484950515 253545556571896.] KNPKRIMENTS \YITII \VHEAT, 1894-5.TABLE 8. CONTINUKD.155p"s.156 BULLETIN NO. 41. \March,EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1888-95.The Experiments here reported are :No. 12. Quantity of Seed per Acre.No. 14. Time of Sowing.No. 15. Depth of Sowing.No. 84. Test of Varieties.For Meteorological Records, see p. 148.Experiment No. 12. Quantity of Seedper Acre.TABLE i. YIELD OF STRAW AND GRAIN WITH WEIGHT OF GRAIN PKK BUSHKI. FROMDIFFERENT RATES OF SEEDING OF OATS, 1888-93.Seedi8g6.J EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1895. 157It will be noticed that in but one season \vas the greatestweight of straw accompanied by the highest yield of grain, andthat the weight per bushel is largely independent of the yield ofgrain. Contrary to the results of similar experiments with wheatthe highest average 52.8 is opposite a seeding which itself securedthe greatest yield for four out of the six seasons, and no lighterseeding than this has as yet given the highest yield. If this meansanything, it means that 2 l/2 bushels an acre is the most favorableseeding, with a tendency favoring more rather than less.Experiment No. 14. Time of Sowing.TABLE 2. YiKL'D OF OATS IN GRAIN AND STRAW FROM SOWING AT DIFFERENT DATES.aPKo>Gfl3'cp1 58 BULLETIN NO. 41. \Marck,TABLE 3. YIELD OF OATS FROM SEEDING AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS FOR six SUC-CESSIVE SEASONS, 1888-93._aI896.J EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1895. 159TABLE 5. CHARACTER AND YIELD OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF OATS, 1895.PlatNo.160 BULLETIN NO. 41. \March,influence upon yield, with a preference decided though slight infavor of 2*/2 bushels per acre (Table i).That from different thickness of seeding the yield of grain andits weight per bushel are quite independent of the weight of straw(Table I).That the most favorable time for sowing is the very last ofMarch, with a tendency favoring an earlier date (Table 2).That yields of grain and straw from seedings at different datesfluctuate more nearly together, than do those from different ratesof seeding (Tables I and 2).That comparatively shallow seeding is necessary (Table 3).That maximum yields may be had with medium weights ofstraw.That the low yields of the season of 1895 are due to theremarkably dry season (Tables 5 and 6, and Meteorological Record,p. 148).EUGENE DAVENPORT, M. AGK., Agriculturist.W. J. FRASER, B. S.180.] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1895. l6lORGANIZATION.BOARD OF TRUSTEES, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.NELSON W. GRAHAM, Carbondale, President.JOHN P. ALTGELD, Springfield, Governor of Illinois.JAMES \V. JUDY, Tallula, President State Board of Agriculture.S \MUEL M. INGLIS, Springfield, Superintendent Public Instruction.RICHARD P. MORGAN, Dwight. ISAAC S. RAYMOND, Sidney.DR. JULIA H. SMITH. Chicago. SAMUEL A. BULLARD, Springfield.NAPOLEON B. MORRISON, Odin. ALEXANDER McLEAN, Macomb.JAMES E. ARMSTRONG. Chicago. MRS. LUCY L. FLOWER, Chicago.BOARD OF DIRECTION, EXPERIMENT STATION.THOMAS |. BURRILL, PH.!)., Urbana, Prof, of Botany and Horticulture, President.E. E. CHESTER, Champaign, of State Board of-Agriculture.E. A. RIEHL, Alton, of State Horticultural Society.H. B. GURLER, DeKalb, of State Dairymen's Association.N. B. MORRISON, Odin, Trustee of the University.ISAAC S. RAYMOND, Sidney, Trustee of the University.ANDREW S. DRAPER, LL.D.. President of the University.STEPHEN A. FORBES, PH.D., Urbana, Professor of Zoology.ETGENE DAVENPORT, M.S., Urbana, Professor of Animal Husbandry.THE STATION STAFF.THOMAS J. BURRILL, PH.D., Horticulturist and Botanist, President Board ofDirection.WILLIAM L. PILLSBURY, A.M., Urbana, Secretary.EUGENE DAVENPORT, M.S., Agriculturist.CYRIL GEORGE HOPKINS, M.S., Chemist.STEPHEN A. FORBES, PH.D., Consulting Entomologist.DONALD McINTOSH, V.S., Consulting Veterinarian.GEORGE W. McCLUER. M.S., Assistant Horticulturist.GEORGE P. CLINTON, M.S., Assistant Botanist.WILL A. POWERS, B.S.. Assistant Chemist.UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA

Experiments with oats, 1888-95.

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