country form a babel-like confusion of names out of which one must be well informed to select those few that are most desirable.

Looking at the matter in this light, we have attempted to compare and classify the different varieties which we have grown, with a view of simplifying their nomenclature or at least furnishing lis's of approximate synonyms, so that the farmer and seedsman would be able, in a meisure, to group those varieties together which are quite similar. We disclaim any intention of setting up a botanical classification which can be recogn zed by all, for, in fact, the charac teristics upon which the grouping rests are so subject to change by selection and climatic influer ce that even broad groups would need to be frequently revised. Perhaps there may be many varieties cultivate.t in different parts o the country under names found in our list which would not answer to the description we give them. This only argues the more need that some attempt at classification should be made. Unfortunately, we were not able to carry this study forward as we had hoped this year, on account of losing the trial plots, but the varieties have been resown and the list largely increased.

The two general divisions of wheat into Bearded and Smooth varieties are recognized by all. The grouping here given is based upon color of glumes and berry, and condition of head as to being bearded or smooth. Those which most closely resemble each other in generel appearance come at the head of each list and are marked with the asterisk (*). In several cases these are then followed by other names which bear resemblances in color and other points.

FIRST GROUP.

Characteristics-Glumes awned or bearded, bronze colored, red kernel; head and kernel usually medium or large :ize.

9. Red Amber.

4.

*California B'ue Stem.

12.

5.

*Cornell No. 4.

13.

*Scott's Bearded.
*Swamp.

6.

* Datt Red.

7.

*Lancaster.

8.

*Mediterranean.

SECOND GROUP.

Characteristics. Glumes awnless or smooth, bronze colored, red kernel; head and kernel usually medium or large size.

Characteristics.-Glumes awnless and bronze colored, white kernel; head

Those marked with asterisk (*) in third group are very similar in appearance, having in each case almost typical Clawson heads. The others resemble the Clawson only in color.

FOURTH GROUP.

Characteristics.-Glumes awned and white, red kernel; head and kernel

usually small or medium size.

1. *Big Frame.

FIFTH GROUP.

Characteristics.-Glumes awnless and white, red kernel; head and kernel

Characteristics.-Glumes awned and white; white kernel.

1. Smith's Improved.

2. White Rogers. 3. Wild Goose.

SEVENTH GROUP.

Characteristics.-Glumes awnless and white; white kernel.

The following come under this group according to color, but do not resem

ble the foregoing varieties much in other respects. Thus they form a group themselves.

EIGHTH GROUP.

Characteristics.-Glumes awned, bronze colored, red kernel; heads medium size or large, spikelets arranged in distinctly opposite rows and closely packed on the rachis, giving the head a peculiar square appearance.

1.

Andrews, No. 4.

2. Brady Lake.

3. Michigan Bronze.
4. Sibley's Hybrid.

NINTH GROUP.

Characteristics.-Glumes awnless and white, red kernel; resembles above in arrangement of spikelets, though not so closely set. Number 2 has bronze colored glumes.

1. American Eclipse. 2. Canada Club.

MISCELLANEOUS.

3. Wayne Co. Select.

Roscoe is a peculiar, small square set head, awnless bronze glumes. There are several varieties called Velvet and Velvet Chaff, these are mostly characterized by a velvety fuzz on the chaff or glumes. They are awned bronze, and awnless white. We have several varieties, but the one of most importance and which the Station has distributed is a red chaff bearded variety with medium size red kernel.

WHEAT TESTS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

The Station has for three years endeavored to distribute as widely as possible such varieties of wheat as were thought most promising and not generally distributed. And has also endeavored to obtain the principal facts in regard to their success or failure.

In many cases the parties receiving the wheat have failed to report, and in some instances where they have reported from evident inaccuracies or omission of important facts the reports have been of questionable value.

We wish to say, however, that most of those reporting have done exceedingly well and furnished notes of value.

The selection of men to do local testing for the Station in different parts of the State is a matter of some difficulty as it is impossible for us to have a personal knowledge of but very few of those to whom seed is sent.

Possibly if county societies in different parts of the State would select one or two of their members, who should be considered the special agents of that society to look after work which the Station might wish to have done in their county, it would accomplish a great good in aiding the Station to secure reliable reports and such assistance as is desired.

In the first distribution one bushel of each variety, and usually two varieties were sent to each party. This was found to be quite expensive and it necessitated buying considerable seed which we have learned from experience is not the thing to do. The Station can have no guaranty of the purity of seed unless grown by ourselves, and from the very nature of work it is impossible to grow a large quantity of but one or two varieties. The Station has been inposed upon by persons selling us impure seeds which have not only caused the loss of that particular work, but have been a great injury in other respects.

That the Station should expend much of its means distributing seeds we do not concieve to be the intent of the law by which it was established, yet such work as can be judiciously done in this line is doubtless perfectly proper.

The distribution of wheat for the second year was in smaller quantities than the previous year, and last year entirely in small quantities (two to four quarts), in this manner reaching a much larger number of people. The smallness of quantity we have no doubt deters many from paying such attention to it as it should receive and from making as good a report upon it as they would have done with a larger quantity. But there is no good reason for this. Two quarts of seed will properly sow 10 square rods of ground-one-sixteenth of an acre-and if carefully sown this is sufficient to produce a yield of two or even three bushels, which is ample to produce a crop the following year that will furnish seed for several ordinary farms.

The dis ribution for last year was sent to over sixty farmers, reaching nearly sixty counties-less than 20 per cent. of these reported (or less than one in five). This is a poor showing and just so far deprives the Station of results which it ought to have. If such resul s are to be expected in the future it is not certain but that the Station must limit testing of varieties to a few paid agents. This would deprive it of means hich are very much needed for other work and would not enable us to get as many reports from different sections of the State would certainly be desirable

M

In the accompanying table is presented the main facts from this test of varieties. On account of lack of full reports from all parties it is not what we had hoped to present. Wherever any data is omitted from the table it is because the party omitted it from his report. The quantity sown, the area covered, and the yield from that area are given. This affords much better comparison, and shows what diverse results will be reached by different parties. The area sown is not absolutely correct inseveral instances, but as nearly so as could well be made from data furnished by those reporting. The following general conclusions from the tests and correspondence from different parts of the State are presented:

Fultz wheat, which for a time was waning, is regaining much of its popularity. Velvet Chaff is generally well received, though there are a few adverse reports. Finley is generally well received. York White Chaff and Rocky Mountain are favorably received; also Nigger and Valley. Royal Australian, Martia's Amber and Landreth are good white wheats and as such quite popular.