138 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The condition of Kansas seed corn, E. G. Sch^vfee (Kansas 8ia. Circ. 22, 

 pp. 3). — After a long dry period in tlie summer of 1911 more favorable condi- 

 tions came in tlie fall. Corn renewed its growth and at the time of the early 

 freezes contained a high percentage of moisture. Among thousands of ears of 

 seed corn received from farmers in different parts of Kansas, the station's aver- 

 age test has been " about 75 per cent good." In view of these facts this circular 

 gives suggestions on the purchase of seed corn, the germination test, the indi- 

 vidual ear test, and the preparation of land for planting. 



The seed corn situation, C. G. Williams (Ohio 8ta. Circ. 121, pp. lit- 

 120). — A discussion of the advantages of testing is followed by directions for 

 the use of the germination test of seed corn. 



Some data for oat growers, L. C. Burnett (Iowa Sta. Bui. M8, pp. 93- 

 127, figs. 5). — Earlier oat experiments have already been noted (E. S. R., 19, 

 p. 1034). 



A key to oat varieties based upon the work of J. B. Norton and a classifica- 

 tion of oats for shows precede tables reporting the results of tests of 48 commer- 

 cial oat varieties as to date of ripening, height, percentage of lodging, the yield 

 per acre, and the weight per bushel during 1908, 1909, and 1910. Averages for 

 this period, for the 5-year period 1906-1910, and the 7-year period 1904-1910 

 are given where possible. Among 7 common Iowa varieties, Kherson gave a 

 7-years' average yield of 55.9 bu. per acre, or 7.5 bu. more than the average of 

 the standard varieties, and was excelled in early ripening qualities only by the 

 Early Champion and White Alaska. Silver Mine averaged 52.3 bu. per acre 

 but averaged about 8 days later in ripening. 



Iowa's 1907 oat crop showed very light weight per bushel and yield. The 

 heaviest and best* seed obtainable of 20 leading varieties was purchased from 

 outside sources for comparison with the light home-grown seed during 1908. 

 The average results are indicated by the following figures, the data for the 

 home-grown seed being stated first: Weight of seed per bushel as sown 25n and 

 83 lbs., number of seeds sown per acre 2,443,000 and 1,829,000, leaf-rust 16.7 and 

 18.9 per cent, stem rust 26.7 and 26.8 per cent, lodging 11 and 16 per cent, 

 yield per acre 31.2 and 31.5 bu., weight of crop per bushel 22.1 and 22.2 lbs. 

 The average date of sowing was April 19, and the average date of ripening 

 July 25. All plats were sown at the rate of 3 bu. per acre. In case of 12 

 varieties the light acclimated seed outyielded the heavy imported seed, in 7 

 cases the heavy seed outyielded the light, and in one case the yields were 

 equal. " Some of the plats with heavy seed may have been underseeded. The 

 figures tend to show that the heavy seed and light seed were about equal pound 

 for pound, but not seed for seed, nor measure for measure." 



Six bu. of Kherson and Silver :Mine oats were taken just as they came from 

 the thrashing machine and divided into 4 'samples of each variety, a check 

 Bample and samples fanned 1, 2, and 3 times each, respectively. Each fanned 

 sample was again divided and used in sowing so that each of 4 plats of each 

 variety received the same number of pounds of seed, while other plats were given 

 the same number of seeds, as nearly as the drill could be calibrated to accom- 

 plish this result. In 9 different tests the unfanned oats never excelled the 

 fanned samples in yield, but the samples fanned 3 times rarely yielded more 

 than those fanned once or twice. 



A Wyoming-grown sample of oats of Irish Victor stock, which won the cham- 

 pionship at the Portland Exposition, was sown in 1907 and 3 succeeding years 

 for comparison with other Irish Victor seed. In the 4 years it never equaled 

 the parent stock, but approached it at a rate which if continued in the future 

 would make it equal the older stock within 2 more seasons. In 1907 new varie- 

 ties were purchased, which showed such variations that the seed of each variety 



