161 



Februarj 17, seven varieties of oats named in the table 

 "below were sown on " branch bottom land." On account of 

 inequalities in the soil, causing poor and irregular growth 

 over nearly all plots, except on a small strip at the east end 

 of each, only this small measured portion of each plot was 

 harvested. This vitiates the experiment somewhat, the 

 yields in the following tables representing only the best 

 portions of each plot : 



Varieties of oats sown February 17, 1898. 



o 

 o 



VAKIETY. 



May 



Red Rust Proof.. 



Burt 



Virginia Gray.... 

 Red Rust Proof. 



Myer's Turf 



Blk. Belgian Winter 

 ■Black Mesdag ... 



SEED FROM 



YIELD PER ACRE 



Straw Grain 



Opelika, Ala 



Ala. Expt. Sta 



Miss. Expt. Sta 



*Ala. Expt. Sta 



Ala. Expt. Sta 



Miss. Expt. Sta 907 



France , 



France ! 1046 



#« 



6.2 



Percent 

 Grain. 



39.9 

 39.6 

 41.7 

 26.4 

 46.3 

 16.6 



15.9 



In this test of " spring-sown " oats Burt was most pro- 

 ductive, followed by May and Red Rust Proof. The winter 

 varieties failed, one winter variety maturing no grain at all. 



What is the Best Variety of Oats? 



It seems that there is no one variety best for all con- 

 ditions. The Red fJust Proof is the only one in the list tested 

 by u.s which is worthy of the name of a " general purpose " 

 oat in this locality. It can be sown both in fall and in late 

 winter in this latitude. It is generally not greatly injured 

 by rust, but is rust resistant rather than rust proof. The 

 straw is short, an objection on very poor or stony land, since 

 short straw means loss in harvesting. The height of straw 

 can be increased by the liberal use of nitrogenous fertilizers, 

 such as cotton seed, cotton seed meal, and nitrate of soda. 



*Originally from T. W. Wood & Sons, Richmond Va.; seed grown 

 in Alabama only one year. 



**Failed to produce seed when sown in February. 



