The investigations with cereals conducted at the Akron Field Station during the past 15 years have consisted chiefly of varietal studies, experiments on rate, date, and method of seeding, and the improvement of cereals by selection. The objects for which these investigations have been conducted are: (1) To determine the best crops, crop varieties, and strains for the region; (2) to improve cereal varieties by breeding; and (3) to determine the best methods of cereal production. i The Akron Field Station is operated by the Office of Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations of the Bureau of Plant Industry. The cereal experiments are conducted by the Office of Cereal Investigations in cooperation with that office. These experiments were begun in 1907. Wilson G. Shelley was in charge from March 1, 1908, until February 23, 1911. Clyde McKee was then appointed scientific assistant and placed in charge of cereal investigations at Akron, which position he retained till February 15, 1913. He was then succeeded bv Charles H. Clark, who remained until July 1, 1913, on which date he was transferred to take charge of the' flax investigations of the Office of Cereal Investigations. George A. McMurdo was placed in charge of the cereal experiments at the time of Mr. Clark's transfer, which position he retained until February', 1917, when he resigned. He was succeeded by the writer in July, 1917. the relative values of the different cereals and should show definitely which are the best varieties and the best cropping systems for this region. The results obtained at the Akron Field Station are applicable to a large part of eastern Colorado and adjacent portions of northwestern Kansas, western Nebraska, and southeastern Wyoming, especially on what are locally termed "hard lands." The irrigated river valleys and the sand-hill sections present somewhat different conditions. The yields of the cereals compare very favorably with those obtained under dry-land conditions in other parts of the United States. Winter wheat, corn, barley, spring wheat, and oats are the most important cereals in this section. Wheat and corn are each of greater economic importance than all other cereals combined. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIELD STATION LOCATION The Akron Field Station is located in northeastern Colorado, about 60 miles from the Nebraska line on the east as well as on the north, where Nebraska extends west beyond the northeast corner of Colorado to W}^oming. The station is 4 miles east of Akron, the county seat of Washington County. The town of Akron is located about 112 miles east of Denver, Colo., on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, running from Chicago and St. Louis to Denver. The railroad bounds the field station on the south. The station is slightly west and north of 40°N. latitude and 103°W. longitude. The altitude is about 4,560 feet. The station contains about 227 acres. Of this area 160 acres, known as the " forestry quarter," are owned by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station. The remaining 67 acres, lying direct...
