318 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



crop each year is concerned, it is our most dependable variety and runs 

 out least of any that can he grown in Missouri. 



During tlie past two years the Red Rust Proof has averaged 46 

 bushels per acre. At 35 cents per bushel the gross return from this 

 variety would be $16.10. Subtracting the estimated cost of production, 

 $7.56, this leaves a net profit of $8.51: per acre. Tliis is clearly a much 

 better business proposition than the present .state value of oats per acre. 

 How can the farmer increase his yield of oats? This is a most logical 

 question. 



Value of Heavy Seed. — Much can be done to prevent any variety 

 from running out. By sowing only plump seed, definite increases in 

 yield can be expected. At the Ontario Station (annual report 1908) an 

 experiment was conducted to determine the differences in yield to be 

 secured by sowing the heavy and light seed of a given A^ariety. For the 

 first three years of the experiment the difference was 10.4 bushels in 

 favor of the heavy seed; the last three years the difference was 22.4 

 bushels per acre in favor of heavy seed. Furthermore, the difference in 

 weight per bushel increased from 3.2 pounds the first three years to 9.5 

 pounds the last three years of the experiment. Heavy seed can be 

 obtained from our home grown varieties by fanning the oats thoroughly, 

 saving only large, plump, heavy grain for seed. This is not the general 

 practice. Most farmers go to the bin and shovel out the oats as they 

 come, sowing good and bad alike. 



Preparation of the Soil. — The preparation of the ground has much 

 to do with the yield of oats. In most cases it has not been found practical 

 to plow the land, although some stations report increased yields by plow- 

 ing. Oats generally follow corn, and in that case a good double disking 

 followed by a drag or spike-tooth harrow to level the land should suffice. 

 When the oats are then put in with a disk drill the preparation is most 

 thorough. 



Farmers generally sow their oats broadcast with an end-gate seeder 

 on unprepared land, then disk or cultivate with a corn cultivator and 

 smooth down with a drag or harrow. This is not as good practice as 

 drilling. 



Drilling vs. Broadcasting. — In experiments conducted at various ex- 

 periment stations to determine the effect of drilling compared with broad- 

 casting oats, it has been found that a definite increase in yield can be 

 secured by drilling them in. The Illinois station (bulletin 136) found 

 as a general average on three separate fields for three years an increase 

 of 3.9 bushels per acre yearly in favor of drilling. Kansas (bulletin 

 74) reports a yearly increase of 5.3 bushels for seven years in favor 



