Station Circular 417 January, 1956
Small Grain Varieties
Recommended by the Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station Lafayette, Indiana, for seeding in 1956
for Indiana
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 and to hessian fly. 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 I ndiana.
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 out-
standing 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 rec-

ties.
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
The new stiff-strawed soft wheat varieties, Dual (left) and Vermillion (ngm./. Dual is the first hessian fly resistant wheat adapted to Indiana, and Vermillion is a very winter-hardy, early maturing variety.
l Prepared by the Small Grain Improvement Coordinating Committee consisting of R. M. Caldwell, Chairman, v- _ Beeson, L. E. Compton, A. R. Halvorson, R. R. Mulvey, J. E. Newman, F. L. Patterson and J. F. Schafer and approv’d >}	10
Director.