FIELD CROPS. 739 



is considered due to a mild winter. Of 7 varieties sown February 17, 

 LbOS, Burt, May, and Red Rust Proof were most productive, yielding 

 41.4, 35.9, and 30.6 bu. per acre, respectively. The yield of Red Rust 

 Proof is the average of 2 plats. The varieties grown as Burt and May 

 appeared to be identical. The winter varieties, Virginia Gray, Meyer 

 Turf, Black Belgian Winter, and Black Mesdag, failed. The Black 

 Belgian Winter oats produced no grain at all. In the experience of 

 the station Red Rust Proof is the only general purpose variety for that 

 locality, although Meyer Turf, Virginia Gray, Delaware Winter, and 

 Gray Winter were found to be hardier. Burt ripened 1 to 2 weeks 

 before Red Rust Proof sown on the same date in the spring and only 

 1 to 3 days later when this variety was sown in the fall. Red Rust 

 Proof matured 12 to 19 days earlier when sown in November than 

 when sown in February. Meyer Turf, Virginia Gray, and Gray Winter 

 matured 10 to 12 days later than Red Rust Proof, and Hatchett Black 

 matured between Red Rust Proof and Meyer Turf. 



Three experiments were made on fall and spring sowings with Red 

 Rust Proof oats, the average results showed that oats sown in Novem- 

 ber yielded 9.8 bu. of grain and 531 lbs. of straw per acre more than 

 oats sown in February and March. The average date of harvesting 

 the spring-sown crop was June 12, and of the fall-sown crop May 26. 



Oats grown after cowpeas, the vines having been plowed under, pro- 

 duced 10.4 bu. of grain and 229 lbs. of straw per acre more than oats 

 grown after German millet plowed under as a fertilizer. On a series 

 of 6 plats velvet bean vines, velvet bean stubble, cowpea vines, cowpea 

 stubble, crab grass and weeds, and German millet stubble were plowed 

 under. The plats were then fertilized with 220 lbs. per acre of acid 

 phosphate and 44 lbs. muriate of potash and sown to oats in the fall. 

 The average yield of oats per acre was 33.6 bu. after velvet beans, 31.6 

 bu. after cowpeas, and 8.4 bu. after crab grass and weeds and German 

 millet. There was a gain of 24.2 bu. of oats and nearly | of a ton of 

 straw per acre as a result of growing leguminous insiead of nonlegu- 

 minous crops during the preceding season. The plats on which the 

 velvet bean and cowpea stubble had been plowed under produced bet- 

 ter yields than those on which the vines were plowed under. This is 

 believed to be due to the fact that the vines were not properly buried 

 by the plow and that the stubble ground made a better seed bed. 

 Three series of experiments, 2 with fall-sown oats, and 1 with spring 

 oats were made to determine the best time of applying nitrate of soda 

 as a top-dressing. In all cases the application was more effective when 

 applied in March than when used in the latter part of April. 



Four plats were sown to oats after having been fertilized with com- 

 plete fertilizer and 2 of the plats received in addition 660 lbs. slaked 

 lime per acre. There was a difference of 12.9 bu. per acre in the yields 

 in favor of the limed plats. One thousand pounds of quicklime per 

 acre, applied as a top-dressing after being slaked, effected no gain on 



