EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS 179 



rolled after drilling, and rolled and harrowed after drilling. The plots were located 

 in two separate fields. lu field No. 15, one set of experiments was tried on fall 

 plowed land and in field No. 8 two sets were tried, one on spring plowed and one on 

 fall plowed land. Each set contained four plots, so that each method of preparation, 

 with respect to rolling, was tried on three separate plots and in two different fields. 

 The soil in No. 8 is reasonably uniform and the mechanical analysis found on 

 page 267 of Bulletin 154 gives an idea of its general character. No. 15 is more roll- 

 ing than No. 8, and the soil is also a little lighter, consequently its normal content 

 of water is lower. 



No. 15 was a timothy and June grass sod and its general preparation was as 

 follows: Plowed the latter part of October, 1897; worked with spading harrow 

 lapping half, April 13, 1898, going lengthwise of the furrow; harrowed twice with 

 spring tooth harrow in the same direction, April 14th; cross harrowed with spike 

 tooth harrow, April 14th and 15th; the oats, American Banner, were sown with an 

 eleven hoe grain drill, April 15th. 



The plots were made very narrow, two drill breadths, (fourteen feet) wide, and 

 ran from near the west end of the field to the east end. The extreme length in- 

 cluded was seventy-two rods. The special preparation of the various plots was 

 as follows: 



Plot 1. Not rolled. 

 Plot 2. Rolled before drilling. 

 Plot 3. Rolled after drilling. 



Plot 4. Drilled and afterwards rolled, then harrowed with spike tooth 

 harrow. 

 In connection with the growth and harvesting of these plots the following points 

 should be noted: 



April 30th the oats were just coming through the ground. 

 June 25th they were well headed out. 

 The cutting and shocking was done July 25th and the hauling August 3d. All the 

 experimental oats were threshed October 8th. No marked difference in the growth 

 of the oats on the several plots was noted at any time, but the oats in this field were 

 much shorter than those in No. 8. 



Field No. 8 grew corn in 1897, and the following will make clear the preparation 

 of the two strips on which the oat experiments were duplicated. The fall plowing 

 was done early in November and the land left with no further preparation until 

 spring; April 16th this fall plowed strip was worked once with a spading harrow; 

 April 18th it was worked lengthwise with a spring tooth harrow and April 21st 

 cross dragged with the same harrow. The spring plowed strip was plowed April 

 12th and 13th. It was not worked with a spading han*ow, but otherwise its treat- 

 ment was exactly the same as that given the fall plowed strip up to the time of 

 the special preparation of the individual plots. 



The plots had the same width as in No. 15 and were ninety rods seven and one- 

 half feet long. 



All of the plots except Plot 5 were drilled April 25th. Plot 5 was left until April 

 26th on account of rain. 

 The following shows the preparation of each plot: 



Fall Plowed. 



Plot 1. Rolled and harrowed with spike toothed harrow April 30th, after 



drilling. 

 Plot 2. Rolled April 30th, after drilling. 

 Plot 3. Rolled and drilled April 25th. * 



Plot 4. Not rolled. 



Spring Plowed. 



Plot 5. Rolled and drilled April 26th. 



Plot 6. Drilled then rolled April 30th and afterwards harrowed with spike 



tooth harrow. 

 Plot 7. Rolled April 30th after drilling. 

 Plot 8. Not rolled. 



On account of rain the rolling and harrowing after the oats were drilled was not 

 done until April 30th. 



