A particular type of stem distortion of wheat has been found to be perpetuated from one season to the next by seed of winter wheat. Although this does not definitely preclude the possibility that insects or parasitic organisms are involved, it indicates that the condition may be caused by some genetic factor or possibly by a virus. There is some similarity between the symptoms for stem distortion and those effects from injury by the western wheat aphis. These insects were not observed, however, on the plants at Moscow, and it seems unlikely that any insects or their damage were seed transmitted.

The percentage of plants infested and the intensity of infestation by the hessian fly, Phytophaga destructor Say, were studied in seedlings of four resistant and two susceptible varieties of wheat grown in the greenhouse at the two temperature ranges of 60 degrees to 65 degrees and 75 degrees to 80 degrees F. At the higher temperatures the percentages and the intensities of infestation were significantly greater on the resistant spring wheat W38 and its resistant winter-type progeny B36162A13-12. The effects of temperature were similar with the susceptible varieties B42, a spring type, and Wabash, a winter type, but in each case the relative magnitude of the effect was much smaller than for the resistant varieties. From the experiments conducted it was not possible to determine whether the effects of temperature on infestation were due to the response of the host plant alone or to a combined response of both the host plant and the insect. The near immunity of the durum P.I. 94587 was found not to be reduced at the higher temperature. The resistance of a common wheat (42-chromosome) derivative of this durum, however, was greatly affected by temperature. The immutability of the resistance of the durum P.I. 94587 at different temperatures is believed to indicate a fundamentally different resistance in that strain, as contrasted with the resistance of the common-wheat varieties studied.

1. A study was made of soil aggregation as affected by growing, corn, growing soybeans, a mulch of wheat straw, corn stalks broken down across the slope after harvest, soybean straw spread on the respective plots after threshing, and season. A comparison was also made of the aggregation in the thin surface layer of soil, about 3/8 inch thick, with that in the 3/8 to 5-inch layer. 2. The thin surface layer of soil, approximately 3/8 inch thick, contained a smaller percentage of aggregates, particularly of the larger sizes, than the 3/8 to 5-inch layer. These results confirm the conclusions of others that the surface soil becomes dispersed, particularly if there is no protective cover on the soil. 3. The mulch of wheat straw definitely favored the formation of the larger aggregates. The soybean straw and the corn stalks remaining on the soil over winter seemed to favor aggregation but did not increase significantly the percentage of aggregates. 4. The soil on the corn plots contained a higher percentage of aggregates larger than 0.50 mm than that of the soybean plots. 5. On the corn plots the percentage of aggregates larger than 0.50 mm increased during the four years the experiment was in progress. On the soybean plots there was a decrease except on those plots receiving a mulch of wheat straw.

The effect of planting a small grain crop in rows 7 or 14 inches apart on the growth of legume seedlings and yield of grain has been studied at the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station over a period of 16 years. Increasing the distance between rows of small grain from 7 or 8 inches to 14 or 16 inches by closing every other opening in the grain drill will provide a more favorable opportunity for the survival of legume seedlings during normal drought periods. Results of cooperative tests in central and eastern Oklahoma show that the effect of row spacings on yield were quite variable. The average production of grain and straw was slightly lower when drill rows were 14 inches apart and only one-half as much seed was planted as compared with a 7-inch spacing. Spring oats planted over a 10-year period at Stillwater, Okla., have produced as much grain when drilled in 14-inch rows as when planted in 7-inch rows. The average yields were 34.6 and 34.3 bushels, respectively. Michigan winter barley, planted in 14-inch rows at the rate of 1 bushel per acre, has suffered a greater reduction in yield, about 3 bushels net loss, than winter wheat, rye, or spring oats. Very little advantage in the stand of legume seedlings will be secured from wide row spacing of small grain when summer rainfall is abundant and summer temperatures are below average. During many seasons when summer drought is severe, a good stand of sweetclover will be obtained on plots when the small grain is drilled in 14-inch rows, whereas a complete failure will occur on plots where the drill rows are spaced 7 inches apart.