286 



AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Table i. 



Varieties Tested for 5 Years. Yield in Bushels Per Acre. 



From this it is seen that the average yield of the first seven 

 varieties is practically the same. The Irish Victor still main- 

 tains a slight lead over the others, but the difference is less 

 than one bushel per acre. The Regenerated Swedish Select 

 shows a marked drop behind the other varieties in its average 

 yield. The Swedish Select has been a very popular oat in this 

 state but we have never been able to obtain very consistent 

 results with it. It has several faults. In the first place it has 

 a rather weak straw and in a good season lodges badly. Its 

 yield is also greatly affected by environmental conditions. 



The Victor is a black oat and is retained because it is a 

 good type of a black oat. It has never yielded very well com- 

 pared with the other varieties. 



The Kherson is an early oat and matures about ten days 

 before the other varieties. The Kherson has never done well 

 for us at Highmoor although it is very popular in the middle 

 west. A larger oat with a longer growing season is better 

 suited to our climate. This at least is true for central and 

 southern Maine. A preliminary variety test this year at Aroos- 

 took Farm showed the Kherson and the Daubeney, another 

 early oat, to be ahead of the other varieties. There are some 

 reasons for believing that these early oats may be well adapted 

 to Aroostook conditions. In the first place they can be har- 

 vested eight to ten days earlier than the ordinary varieties. 



