167 



(S) In seven years' cxpcrinionts with deep and shallow planting the average rosnlts 

 show an advantage in favor of planting 1 inch rather than 2 inches deep, but 

 indicate that in dry seasons it may bo better to plant '2 inches deep. 



(9) The greatest amount of marketable corn has been produced where the stalks 

 averaged 12 inches apart ; the variations in yield were slight, whether planted one 

 grain every 12 inches, two every 24, three every 30, or four every 48 inches. 



(10) Three years' trial has not indicated any nuirked differences in the reproduc- 

 tive qualities of corn from the butts, middles, or tips of the ears. If there is any 

 variation it is in favor of middles and tips and against the butts. 



(11) The experiments of 1888 and 1889 indicate that corn should be cultivated more 

 frequently in a dry season than in a wet or ordinary one. 



(12) The average results of two years' experiments favor deep cultivation rather 

 than shallow. The implements used were the harrow and cultivator for shallow 

 tillage and the double shovel for deep. 



Experiments with oats, J. F. Hickman, M. S. A. (pp. 96-100). — 



During the season of 1889 our work in oats was decreased rather than increased, 

 the reduction being made because of lack of ground suitable for the purpose. The 

 work of the year has included (I) a comparative test of varieties, and (2) experi- 

 ments with different quantities of seed per acre. 



The land used for the variety test of 1889 was not very suitable on account of its 

 being rather rich for oats, but the light rain-fall during May, June, and July favored 

 the crop j • * * and as a result the average yield of ail the varieties, taken as a 

 whole, was higher than in any previous year in the history of the station. 



Oats, tests of varieties (pp. 96-104). — Tabulated data for fifty-five va- 

 rieties are given, including yield per acre of grain and straw, weight of 

 measured bushel, color of grain, and date of ripening. Improved 

 American, from seed received from the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, yielded 86 bushels per acre. Other varieties jjroducing 

 more than 80 bushels per acre were Monarch, liust-Proof, Colonel, and 

 Welch. The comparative yields and weights of measured bushels for 

 each year are given for twenty-one varieties grown at the station from 

 four to six years, and for two others grown two years. 



In weight per measured bushel, the "U elcome and Clydesdale remain above the 

 average, but with the exception of one year (1888) they have not weighed the same 

 per bushel since they were first raised at the station. The Badger Queen, Henderson's 

 Clydesdale, Early Prize Cluster, White Victoria, Race Horse, and Barley oats average 

 above o5 pounds per bushel for a series of years. It is a point worthy of notice that 

 thirteen out of the twenty-three varieties do not average over 30.3 pounds per meas- 

 ured bushel, the Black Tartarian averaging the lowest, which is 28.8 pounds. Just 

 one variety, the Black Russian, averages legal weight, while the average of the entire 

 series (excepting the last two) is 32.8 pounds per bushel. 



A study of the hundred and more varieties of oats grown at the 

 station has impressed the author with the close resemblances existing 

 between many varieties. Comparative tests of Welcome and Clydes- 

 dale oats in particular, daring several years, have served to reveal the 

 difficulty of (listingiiisliing these as separate varieties. Brief reports 

 are given of tests of tea varieties of oats by farmers in different parts 

 of the State. 



Oats, distribution of seed (i)p. 104-106). — Seed was sown ou elevea 

 plats at the rate of from 2 to 12 pecks per acre. The results for 1889 



