402 



Oafs, tests of varieties. — "In 1889, 30 varieties of oats were tested by 

 this station and the results reported iu Bulletin No. 7 of the station [See 

 Experiment Station Record, Vol. I, p. 202J. These varieties have been 

 tested again in 1890 together with 17 other varieties. » * * Eleven 

 varieties were sown on two plats each. The duplicates were, on an 

 average, about 20 rods apart, so arranged as to give the maximum 

 variation likely to occur on the tract used." 



In 1889, in tests of the seed of 28 varieties 93 per cent germinated. 

 In 1890, 87 per cent of the seed in samples from the crop of the previous 

 year germinated, and 93 per cent of the seed in samples of 11 additional 

 varieties. In both years the seed obtained from seedsmen was practi- 

 cally free from impurities. 



The varieties tested in 1890 are grouped according to their leading 

 characteristics. The yields in bushels per acre are given in tabular 

 form and illustrated in a diagram. The weight per bushel, height, date 

 of ripening, weight of berries, per cent of kernel, and condition of the 

 grain when cut are stated in a table. There are also notes on the qual- 

 ity of the different varieties, with tabulated data, and on the date of 

 ripening, panicles, color, plumpness of berry, and weight per bushel. 



Oats, summary of experiments. — The following summary is taken from 

 the bulletin : 



T'he largest yield of grain was produced from sowing 2^ bnsliels of seed in 1888 and 

 1890, and from 3^ iu 1889. The average yield was slightly larger when 3^ bushels of 

 seed were sown per acre. Between 2^ and 3^ bushels of seed per acre there was but 

 little difference in yield, and with 4 bushels the yield was not much less. 



In 1888 and 1889 a medium loose, and in 1890 a fairly compact seed bed gave the 

 best results. A very compact and a very loose seed bed have uniformly given the 

 poorest results. The unplowed land gave this season better results than the plowed. 



The time of sowing has had in these tests a more marked influence on the yield 

 than any other condition. The earlier sowings, with one exception the earliest, have 

 uniformly given the best yields. In these tests sowing prior to April 1 has given 

 decidedly the best results. 



The depth of sowing giving the best results has varied from 1 to 4 inches, and has 

 not been the same in any two seasons. 



No advantage has been found in sowing spring wheat with oats, either in the total 

 quantity of grain produced or in the quality of the wheat. The percentage of wheat 

 harvested was less than that sown. 



In 1890 the so-called dun-colored, rust-proof varieties, Texas Rust-Proof, Texas Red, 

 and New Red Rust-Proof, yielded the best; in 1889 they were among the poorest. 

 Texas Rust-Proof gave the largest yield this season and the smallest yield last season. 

 Giant Yellow French, which gave th(j largest yield in 1889, yielded inditl'erently in 

 1890. Early Dakota White is the only variety which did especially well both 

 seasons. 



There was an average of 66.2 per cent of kernel in the berry of the seed, and 71.3 

 per cent in the crop in 1890. The greatest difference of kernel iu any two varieties 

 was 15 per cent in the seed sown and IG per cent in the crop. 



Those varieties which contain the higher per cent of kernel in the seed sown con- 

 tained the higher aver.age per cent of kernel in the crop, but did not yield quite so 

 well as those containing a less per cent of keruel in the crop. 



The earlier-ripening varieties yielded the most grain and the least straw and cou- 

 taiued the least per cent of kernel. 



