790 



Grading seed oats (]). 173). — '• In 1800 wc obtained a very marked 

 increase in the yield by grading; tlie seed oats. Three grades were made. 

 One, designated • common " graile.consistedoftiieoatsas tlieyj-amc from 

 tiie tliresher, in which condition they are ordinarily used by farmers. 

 This grade was run through the fanning mill and sei)arated into 'light' 

 and 'heavy' grades. The light grade consisted of the small oats and 

 the lighter seeds Idown out by the fan, the heavy grade being the 

 heaviest and plumi)est kernels wliicli the screens could sejiarale fiMm 

 the quantity run through.'" 



The experiment was rejteated on a large scale in 1801, but with very 

 different results, the largest average results being where light seed was 

 used. The average yields per a<*re were as follows: Light seed 50.03, 

 common seed 45.27, and heavy seed 4(».il bnshels. 



Oats for half (pp. 173. 171). — The yields ol" hay iVom oats are tabu- 

 lated lor l.'i dillerent varietie.s. "For want of room oidy 1 plat was 

 devote<l to each kind and all iilats were sown at the rate of 4 bushels 

 ]>er acre. They were cut .Inly 1^">. \\ lien mosl of the seed was in 

 the milk." The yield of hay rang<'d from 3.1 (I'edigree b'cd K'list iMoof) 

 to 4.85 (Hlue (Ira/.ing Winter) tons per acre. 



SiiKjJe variety vs. a mirttire of rariities (pp. 171. 175i. — As in thei>re- 

 vious year, this exjterinn'nt was oidy a partial sncccss. The varieties 

 used were I'robsteier. Ked Ifnst Pr(K)f, and IMack llnssian. These were 

 I)laiited singly and in mixfnres of twos on 30 jdats at the rate of 2.5 

 bnshels per acre. Tiie resnlts were incom-lusive. tlieie being a gain iii 

 sonu' cas«'s and a loss in others from using a mixture of vaii«'ties. 



Effect of the degree of maturitg of seed oats (p. 175). — The see«l of oats 

 which had been cut in 1800 when in the '* dongh," '• hard «longh," and 

 ripe stages, was sown on 1.") plats. All the plats sntlered from the wet 

 weather. The yitdds in bnslu'ls ])er acre were, seed in dongh 38.'.>'.), 

 hard dough 2S.08, ripe seed I'O.UO. " There was no perceptible ditVerence 

 in the time these grailes matnred. All pints wt-re harvested duly 17, 

 being eiinally rijic. The above lignres w«»nld indicate that seed oats 

 shonld be harvest<Ml in thcditngh for the best resnlts." 



Quantity of seed per aere{p\). I7"), 170). — On 30 plats Red AVinteroats 

 were drilled at the rate of from 1 to 4 bushels of se»'d ]>er acre. The 

 averag*' yields i>er a<re with each rate of si-eding ar<' tabulati'il. "After 

 the 2.5 bushels of seeil ])er acre has been reached, the slight increase in 

 .yield by thicker seeiling does not eipial the increase in the seed: in 

 other wonls, tin' incn-ase in yield does not cover the ontlay for seed. 

 On the other hand, with less se«'d than -.'» buslids thert- is a decided 

 falling oti' in the yield." 



Time to harvest oats []). 170). — The oats on 14 plats wer<' cnt when in 

 the dough statt', in the hard dough state, and when rijte. The yields 

 JMT acre were 32.5, 31.25, and 27.73 bnshels, resiiectively. "The result 

 is the reverse of last year, when there was a slight increase in yield 

 from the dough state until rii>eness." 



