DRY-LAND GEAINS IN THIl GREAT BASIN, 13 



WINTER OATS. 



The only variety of winter oats on trial at the substation is the Bos- 

 well Winter. This is a black oat, which came from England about ten 

 years ago. It was propagated by Mr. Stephen Boswell, Nephi, Utah. 

 The yields at the substation have not been as large as those obtained 

 by Mr. Boswell on his farm, which adjoins the substation on the south. 

 In 1907 the crop was planted on land that had produced a crop of 

 wheat that year, and so much volunteer wheat grew that it was impos- 

 sible to determine the oat yield in 1908. The 1908 yield on the Bos- 

 well farm was 50 bushels per acre. In 1909 the yield obtained at the 

 substation was 16 bushels and on the Boswell farm about 40 bushels 

 to the acre. A beating storm greatly reduced the yield on the experi- 

 mental plat after the crop on the Boswell farm was harvested and in 

 the stack. 



A large quantity of seed of this oat has been planted in different 

 parts of the Mountain States. The reports show varying degrees of 

 success, but the majority indicate that the variety will become quite 

 popular. The color of the hull is a commercial objection, but of 

 course has no ill effect on the feeding value. This is comparatively 

 high. As feed for farm animals particularly, the production of this 

 winter oat is recommended. 



To farmers who expect to try the Boswell Winter oat it should be 

 stated that its habit of growth is likely to be misleading. It grows 

 very slowly and in a "creeping" manner during the autumn and 

 spring. Until the middle of June it shows no sign of erect growth 

 and appears so lacking in vigor that in some cases farmers have decided 

 that the crop was a failure and have plowed it under. About June 

 15, however, erect growth commences and the stalks spring up with 

 remarkable rapidity. This variety tillers, or "stools," very heavily, 

 so that when the heads appear, about the last of June, it is seen that 

 a crop of surprising abundance has been produced from what looked 

 like a failure a month earlier. 



SPRING OATS. 



Six varieties and strains of spring oats are being tested. Three of 

 these — the Sixty-Day, the Black American, and the Giant Yellow — 

 have been grown since 1904. The Swedish Select and an improved 

 strain of the Sixty-Day were obtained from Highmore, S. Dak., in 

 1908, and have been grown for two years at the substation. The 

 Kherson, a variety which is botanically identical with the Sixty-Day, 

 was tried in 1909, the seed coming from Akron, Colo. The yields of 

 these varieties are given in Table VI. 



[Cir. 01] 



