JAN 5	1955
Small Grain Varieties
Station Circular 407 January, 1955
FOR INDiana
RECOMMENDED BY THE PURDUE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, FOR SEEDING IN 1955*
Improved Varieties
A number of new small grain varieties become available to Indiana farmers from year to year. Some of these are decidedly superior to varieties previously grown in Indiana. Plant characters in which improvement has already been realized include increased yielding ability, greater strength of straw, shorter straw, better grain quality, increased winter-hardiness, and resistance to certain diseases. Some new varieties, though superior in the area where they originated, may not be adapted to growing conditions in Indiana.
The Agricultural Experiment Station at Purdue University maintains a coordinated research program for developing new improved varieties and for the evaluation of these and other varieties at a number of locations in Indiana. Performance records are available for nearly every variety which may be offered for sale in Indiana.
Annual Recommendations
Experimental results are summarized and reviewed annually to select the outstanding varieties for recommendation the following year. The appearance of superior new varieties and altered disease hazards present an ever changing problem.
Varieties which have been outstanding in production and quality and are resistant to diseases and winter injury are recommended. The experimental results indicate that these are the best varieties available to farmers. Varieties which have yielded well but are somewhat deficient in one or more other characters are listed as acceptable. There is generally an advantage in growing the recommended varieties, but specific characteristics of an acceptable variety may make its production desirable under special local conditions. Varieties are classed as unsuitable if their quality or other characteristics make them objectionable for commercial use or hazardous for production. In addition, other varieties are listed which have been tested but have not performed as well as the recommended and acceptable varieties.
Production of foundation, registered and certified seed of recommended varieties is promoted to assure farmers of a supply of good pure seed. Acceptable varieties are also eligible for certification.
Spring Oat Varieties
Spring oats are the most heat tolerant of the different spring grains and are thus the only spring grain crop generally recommended in Indiana. The effect of hot weather is a major factor in determining the adaptation of varieties. The farther south the region, the earlier and more heat tolerant must be the variety.
Yielding ability, strength of straw, grain quality and resistance to diseases—particularly crown rust—are important considerations in choosing a variety.
CLINTLAND:	Medi um early, very stiff-strawed,
medium short variety producing yellow grain of high test weight and high groats (meat) percentage. High yielding in northern Indiana. Resistant to all races of crown rust currently abundant in North America, to smut occurring in Indiana, and to race 8 and related races of stem rust; susceptible to race 7 and related stem rust races. Clintland is indistinguishable from Clinton 59 except for added crown rust resistance. Developed by the Purdue Agricultural Experiment Station and the U. S. Department of Agriculture and distributed in 1954. Clintland is recommended in Indiana north of U. S. highway 40 and is particularly recommended for heavier soils where its medium short, very stiff straw is an advantage. It is considered acceptable for southern Indiana. Clintland is best adapted where Clinton 59 has proven superior and in addition gives protection against crown rust, the disease most often causing severe damage to oats in Indiana.
CLINTAFE: Stiff-strawed variety of medium height and maturity, producing small yellow kernels with fair test weight and good groats (meat) percentage. Adapted best in the northern one-fourth of Indiana where conditions often favor oats of medium maturity. Resistant to all races of crown rust currently abundant in North America and to race 8 and related races of stem rust; susceptible to race 7 and related stem rust races; moderately resistant to smuts occurring in Indiana. The crown rust resistance of Clintafe is differ-
The new crown rust resistant Clintland spring oat on the left is indistinguishable from Clinton 59 on the right except for rust resistance.
l Prepared by the Small Grain Improvement Coordinating Committee consisting of R. M. Caldwell, Chairman, L. E. Compton, R. R. Mulvey, .T. E. Newman, E. L. Patterson and .1. F. Schafer and approved by the Director.
K. E. Beeson,