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EXPERIMENT STATION— BULLETINS. 



Table 6.— Roots. Fertilizers. 



OATS. 



In growing several varieties of oats only two were in plats large enough to 

 warrant any computation of yield. The yield of those two varieties, Priugle's 

 Progress and New Eaee Horse, fell a little below 38 bu. per acre, the former 

 giving a slight increase over the latter. 



All that was said last year in Bulletin No. 34, as regards the similarity of 

 certain varieties, has been strengthened by the experiments of the past season. 

 There are several varieties of the barley oat, such as Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 15 and 

 16, that bear a very close resemblance. Nos. 1 and 4 grow a little coarser 

 straw than the others, and do not ripen quite so evenly. The above are all 

 very heavy varieties, weighing 36 to 42 lbs. per bushel, but they do not yield 

 equal to our common white oat. The Welcome has been badly affected with 

 smut for two years, while other varieties grown contiguous to it have not. It 

 does not stand up as well as some of the others. Some of the varieties have 

 not been grown long enough and on large enough area to enable us to form 

 a definite opinion regarding them. The Welcome has been grown in the field 

 for two years beside the common white oat, which is our best sort. 



No. 3 was grown last year on a one-half acre plat and made a good growth of 

 straw and size of head, but the yield was not enough to warrant any indorse- 

 ment. It is an early oat ; but the grain is not so plump and heavy as some of 

 the barley oats. No. 7 is the earliest variety grown — was headed June 20th, 

 49 days from date of sowing. It is not a desirable variety from the fact that 

 the straw is very fine and apt to lodge. No. 18 was grown last year for the 

 first time and can not be readily distinguished from No. 15. Great yields are 

 claimed for it; but, as in the case of most of the extraordinary yields, the 

 conditions were extraordinarily favorable. Do not take for granted all that 

 seed catalogues and enthusiasts say, but determine by thoroughly testing 

 a few varieties which are adapted to the conditions of your locality. Grow the 

 variety long enough and in large enough area so that there will be no sudden 

 dropping off in the yield in passing from the plat to the field. 



That many of the so-called new varieties have merit, and that the farmer 

 can receive much good from changing seed occasionally there is no doubt ; 

 but go slow with the novelties, especially the marvelously yielding sorts. 



