224 



is nearly 29 bushels per acre (28.8), giving us a gaiu of G^ (6.34) bushels 

 per acre in favor of the mixture.' 



(4) Cultivation vs. >i) culture. — Ked Wiuter oats were used on twelve 

 twentieth-acre plats. " In this case cultivation occasioned a slight loss ; 

 the plats which were not cultivated averaged 31.9 bushels per acre, 

 while the harrowed and hoed plats yielded, respectively, 28.8 and 28.2 

 bushels per acre. The loosening of the soil with hoe and harrow no 

 doubt injured the roots near the surface." 



(5) Harvesting at different stages of ripening. — it is sometimes asserted 

 that oats ought to be cut before they are fully ripe, the advocates of this practice 

 maintaining that there is a loss rather than a gain in the yield between the dough stage 

 and ripeness. Another argument iu favor of early cutting, to which every practical 

 farmer will agree, is that oats cut before maturity are not so easily beaten out in 

 handling. Fifteen plats were devoted to the investigation of this question. Five 

 were harvested June 27, when the grain was in the "dough," five more June 30, 

 when in the "hard dough" and the remainiug five, July 5, when fully ripe. 



There was a slight but constant increase in the yield from the dough state to rijje- 

 ness, the "dough" series yielding 32.6, ""hard dough" 33, and the ripe series 33.2 

 bushels per acre. [The weights per struck bushel of grain were 31.6, 31.8, and 33 

 pounds, respectively.] Thus there is no gain, but on the contrary a slight loss, by 

 cutting them bel'ore they are ripe. On the other hand, there is a loss of weight in 

 the straw with increased ripeness. This factor is, of course, subject to greater fluctua- 

 tions than the grain, and iu this case the figures giving the weight of straw may, 

 therefore, not be of much value. It is evident that the more fully it is ripened the 

 less water does it contain, and it is equally evident that the straw will make better 

 fodder if cut before the starch and other carbonaceous bodies in the culm change to 

 woody fiber in the process of maturing. The facts obtained indicate that if thestraw 

 is depended on for feed the oats should be cut early; but if the grain alone is wanted 

 they should be allowed to mature. This is emphasized by the increased weight per 

 struck bushel of the ripe grain. 



(6) Oats for forage. — This experiment was undertaken with a view to obtain 

 some definite data in regard to the amount of forage which may be obtained from 

 oats on this soil, when these iire sown thickly and harvested green, i. e. soon after 

 the formation of the seed. Twelve plats of one twentieth acre each were seeded 

 April 5, a rather late date for the best results. Six plats were seeded with 4 bushels 

 per acre, and the remaining six plats with 2J bushels of oats and half a bushel of 

 either sorghum or millet. 



The Virginia Winter oats were a failure in this as in the other experi- 

 ments of this season, and the sorghum and millet did not make a 

 satisfactory growth. " The Red Wiuter oats yielded 1^ tons good hay 

 per acre in three months from seeding, which is a very fair crop for 

 this season." 



(7) Oats grown as single plants. — The objects were to observe the 

 growth of single plants and compare the grain with that grown in the 

 ordinary way. As the experiments were spoiled by drought they are 

 not reported in full. 



(8) Tests of varieties. — Descriptive notes and tabulated data for eighty- 

 five varieties. The highest yields were 50 bushels per acre with White 

 Eureka, and 45 bushels each with Pedigree Red Rust Proof, Colorado 

 Yellow^, Probsteier, and Red Georgia. 



