184 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



All grain raised at Highmoor is recleaned and graded so that 

 only heavy clean seed entirely free from foreign seeds is sown 

 or sent out to purchasers. A common fanning mill is used to 

 clean and grade grains. This machine is of moderate cost an-i 

 works to a high degree of efficiency, leaving the grain clean and 

 free from weed seeds and light unfilled grains. 



'Time will not be devoted here to a discussion of all the vari- 

 eties grown in the tests each year but only those varieties that 

 have been propagated four years will be described. Many vari- 

 eties have been tested one or two years and then discarded ow- 

 ing to some marked weakness or undesirable character. Of 

 the 21 varieties of oats tested in 1913, n have been in this ex- 

 periment during four seasons, 8 during two seasons, one during 

 three seasons, and one during one season. Among the varieties 

 tested four seasons there are some very interesting types. First 

 among the early varieties of oats is the Kherson. With short, 

 fine, stiff straw supporting a small open head, characterized by 

 short delicate drooping branches, the Kherson often surprises 

 one in its cropping ability. The grain is long, slender, yellow 

 in color and not particularly attractive to the average farmer 

 because of its small size. Nevertheless, this oat is one worthy 

 of attention. Seeded May i to 5, it is generally thoroughly ripe 

 by August I. At Highmoor this variety yielded from 48 to 69 

 bushels per acre during the last four seasons, giving an average 

 yield of 57 1-2 bushels per acre. The average yield of straw 

 during the same period was 2466 pounds per acre. In the sea- 

 son of 1913 this oat yielded 61 bushels per acre. 



Among the medium late varieties are the Imported Scotch 

 and Irish Victor. These mature generally about a week later 

 than the Kherson. These varieties have a taller straw and 

 larger, more plump white grains. The Imported Scotch has 

 yielded from 60 to 71 bushels of grain per acre during the past 

 four seasons, the average yield for the four seasons being 63 

 bushels per acre. The yield of straw averaged 2793 pounds 

 per acre. The straw of each of these varieties is a little weak. 

 In 1913 the yield of these varieties was as follows: 



Imported Scotch, grain 68 bu, per acre, straw 2635 lbs. 

 Irish Victor, " dj " " " " 3003 



Of the late varieties of oats which mature 10 days to three 

 weeks later than the Kherson there were several types in these 



