658 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Varieties from other sources, which are often iu the high-yielding 

 class, are the following: Swedish Select, New Victory, Silver Mine, 

 White Bonanza, Strube, Johnson, Big Four, Swedish Crown. 



The Wolverine, College Wonder and Worthy, all open panicled white 

 oats, may be selected as leading varieties under the widest range of 

 conditions. The Worthy has been well known for the past 10 years 

 and has proven particularly successful on heavy lands where ordinary 

 oats tend to lodge. The stiff straw and vigorous stooling capacity of 

 this variety undoubtedly gives it considerable advantage under these 

 conditions. The Wolverine and College Wonder, more recently intro- 

 duced, have surpassed the W^orthy in yield in a majority of instances 

 and seem to possess equally stiff straw and vigorous habits of growth. 

 These varieties consistently out-yield side-oats and black oats. 



Full details regarding characteristics of varieties and methods of 

 developing improved strains may be found in reprint, ^'Oat Varieties 

 for Michigan," by F. A. Spragg from the annual report of the Michi- 

 gan State Board of Agriculture for 1019. 



FERTILIZERS FOR OATS. 



Acid Phosphate, or fertilizers high in Phosphorus, almost universally 

 give a marked increase when applied to land lifted for oats in Michigan. 

 Not only is the yield and weight per bushel increased, but the crop 

 matures more uniforndy and at an earlier date, and the tendency to 

 lodge on heavy soils is overcome to a considerable extent. 



Apparently the most profitable application ranges from 200 to 300 

 lbs. of Acid Phosphate per acre, applied at the time of planting, through 

 fertilizer attachment on drill, or broadcast when fitting the seed bed. 

 Finely ground Pock Phosi)liate or ^'floats" used at the rate of from 

 one-half ton to one ton per acre is also profitable. 



On certain soils, particularly those hnv in organic )natter, Ammoni- 

 ated Phosphate carrying Nitrogen and Phosphorus, or a complete ferti- 

 lizer carrying Nitrogen and Potash, in addition to Phosphorus, may 

 be advisable at rates of from l.'iO to 250 pounds. 



Muck soils are usually markedly benefited by applications of a 

 fertilizer carrying both I'otash and Phosphorus. 



The great majority of Micli'ujan oat soils will respond best to applica- 

 tions of Arid Phosphate. The attention of Michigan oat growers is 

 directed with i)articular emphasis to this profitable i)ractice. Bulletin 

 No. 284, by Professor M. M. McCool and associates of the Soils Sec- 

 tion, Michigan Agricultural College Experiment Station, gives the re- 

 sults of numerous field ex]i(Miments with the use of Phosphorus on 

 oats and other small grains. 



BARNYARD MANURE. 



Oats in common with other crops respond to the use of manure 

 properly applied. II is customary to make heavy applications of manure 

 where available, jn-evious to fitting the land for corn or olher cultivated 

 crops ])receding oats. The oat croj) is benefited through the residual 

 eft'ect. On soils lacking in organic matter direct aj^plications before 

 preparing the land for oats, or when fitting the seed bed, will be found 

 effective. 



