Agronomy and Plant Genetics 1888-2000 - Department of Agronomy ...

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The following lines were suggested as worthy of being bred by the stations:
St. Paul
Minn. No. 13, Rustlers White Dent
Morris
Northwestern Dent
Waseca
Silver King
Crookston Squaw Flint
Grand Rapids Selected Flint
Discussions at crop conferences or planning meetings involved which
varieties were to be recommended, increased for possible release, needed
further testing, and other considerations important to the uniform and efficient
operation of a widely dispersed organization. The information exchange
between individuals and units ensured delivery of quality material
and information to the public.
At the Jan. 7, 1924, meeting, barley selection II-20-10 was considered
the best of 17 selections and better than Manchuria (Minn 184).
There would be no need to continue to test the other 16 lines and the
space would be used for testing rust-resistant wheat lines. Minnesota barley
No. 447 was approved for naming as Velvet. Bergh from Grand Rapids
had a strain of yellow dent corn the group approved to be added to the
recommended list under the name of Moccasin.
At the Dec. 9, 1924, meeting the increase of 80 bushels of Velvet barley
was allocated only to Minnesota stations. Flax strain No. 91 was named
Redwing, but because the seed for the increase came from a variety test
none of the seed increased in 1925 was to be distributed until a careful
study of purity was made. Agronomists recommended dropping Emmer
from the spring wheat trials and spring wheat was dropped from tests at
Grand Rapids and Duluth. Elmer Clark, from Crookston, emphasized that
an alfalfa situation called for a closer check on certified seed producers.
The annual conference in January 1926 indicated interdepartmental
cooperation; it signaled the start of 5-foot rows for rust testing because
there were 196 selections of wheat to test for rust reaction. The future of
hybrid corn seemed to be indicated by the report of a 30% increase in yield
from “double crosses” of a selfed line both in 1924 and 1925. Selvig from
Crookston reported a number of Gehu flint lines selfed 2 years and several
Minnesota 13 lines selfed 1 year. Roy Bridgford from Morris would have
150 to 200 strains selfed 1 year.
The January 1927 conference decided that a pamphlet should be published
giving favorable or unfavorable information concerning varieties,
recommendations and regional importance or other factors as soon possible
after the conference. This was the start of what became known as the
varietal trials bulletin. Station seed prices per bushel were also set: Oats