562 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE GERMINATION TEST. 



After unfavorable seasons, tlie germination of oats may be poor. 

 This means that many who plant at the usual rate will not secure the 

 usual stand. The per cent of germination is very easily ascertained. 

 A reliable germination test can be made by placing one hundred oat 

 kernels on a wet blotter or cloth between pie pans, placing where the 

 temperature is favorable for sprouting. After four or tive days, the 

 oats which have sprouted may be counted and the per cent of germin- 

 able oats readily figured. An increased rate of planting to otfset dead 

 or weak sprouting seeds is advised if germination is less than 95%, 

 or, if very poor, other oats should be secured for seed. The same test- 

 ers used in the germination test for corn may be used for oats. 



HARVESTING OATS. 



Oats should be harvested when in the dough stage, since at that time 

 they give a maximum yield and the greatest weight per bushel. When 

 allowed to get too ripe there is likely to be a loss from shattering. 

 Oats cut in the dough stage make better feed and have a better color. 

 The market demands clean, white, oats of good color and sweet odor. 

 The legal weight per bushel is 32 pounds in Michigan, though oats of 

 superior quality, weighing oG pounds or more per bushel, are frequent- 

 ly met with. 



To insure oats of good market quality careful handling is necessary. 

 It is usual to set sheaves in long shocks, two by two. These are later 

 gathered into round shocks and capped with two bundles as wheat is 

 capped. Stacking in large stacks or in barns, provided the stacking 

 is properly done, usually insures better color and a higher quality of 

 oats. 



OATS IN ROTATION. 



It is necessary to grow oats in rotation with other crops to insure 

 profitable production. Oats fit well in Michigan rotations, usually fol- 

 lowing corn, potatoes or ])eans. In average seasons and on moisture 

 hfilding soils, clover or clover and timothj' seeded with oats is usually 

 successful. The usual clovei- seeding is 8 to 10 pounds of red clover 

 per acre, or 4 pounds of red clover and two pounds of alsike per acre. 

 Where mixed timothy and clover is desired, from 2 to pounds of timo- 

 thy is added to the clover seeding. 



Since the rotation of crops is largely depended on to keep up the 

 organic content of the soil and provide nitrogen, a good clover crop 

 benefits the oats as well as other crops grown in the rotation. 



