42 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Experiments with oats, C. G. Georgeson, P. 0. Burtis, and 

 D. H. Otis {Kansas Sta. Bui. 63, pp. 213-226).— The oat crop for the 

 season of 1896 was almost completely ruined by rust, which developed 

 to au extraordinary degree owing to hot weather and light showers 

 between June 10 and the maturing of the crop. 



The lines of experiment were the comparison of oats on land plowed 

 in the fall and in the spring and on unplowed laud, relative production 

 from seeding at different dates and with different amounts and different 

 qualities of seed, test to ascertain effect of changing soils on the per- 

 centage of smut, trials of methods of seeding, comparison of oats and 

 barley, and variety tests. Full tabulated data arc given for each 

 experiment, with averages for previous years. The authors give the 

 following summary for a number of years: 



"(1) In 1 successive years the best yields of oats have been obtained on spring- 

 plowed land, while when the seed is drilled in there has been practically no differ- 

 ence in the yield in these years between fall-plowed land and land not plowed at 

 all. The oat land had in all eases been in corn the previous year and the corn had 

 been well cultivated. 



"(2) The past season the seedings made the tirst and second week in March gave 

 the best yields. While the time of seeding must necessarily depend upon the 

 weather, as a rule it is best to sow oats as early in March as the ground can be put 

 in order. 



•• 3) Light, inferior seed is certain to produce less than seed of fair quality, but 

 between a fair quality of seed oats and heavy, sifted seed there is oot very much 

 difference, the best yields during 7 years having sometimes been produced by one 

 and sometimes by the other. The average for 7 years is, however, in favor of the 

 heav y seed. 



•■(I) In an average of 6 years, no other method has produced so good results as 

 seeding with a shoe drill with press wheels; nexi follow in order shoe drill without 

 pre-- wheels, hoe drill, and broadcasting. 



"(5) The average of 6 years indicates that it is not advisable to sow less the 2.5 

 bu. per acre. 1 [eavier seedings have in some years yielded more, in others less, than 

 has that amount, but the increase in yield by heavier seeding does not appear to 

 more than cover the additional amount of seed used over 2.5 bu. per aire. 



■■ 6) Smutted seed oats produce smuf in the crop, even though the soil is changed. 

 Of the 8 varieties of smutted oats obtained from the Ohio station for this test, the 

 percentage of smuf was increased above that contained in the seed in 5 varieties. 

 The theory that a change in soils will clear the oats of smut is, therefore, false. 



•■ i 7 Barley has never as yet produced a saf isfactory yield at this station. 



•• (8) The average yield ford years past places the best yielding 12 varieties of oats 

 tested here in the following order: Belgian, Brown Winter, Hoard of Trade, Red 

 Georgia, Pedigree Bed Rust Proof, Golden sheaf. White side. Northwestern White, 

 Ked Rust Proof, Yankee Prolific, Welch, and Black American." 



Potatoes, YV. J. G-reen {Ohio sta. Bui. 76, pp. 33-48). — Extended 

 Hides on culture, descriptions of 28 varieties, and tabulated results 

 with fertilizer experiments arc given. 



Cultural notes. — Selection and keeping of seed potatoes is considered 

 more important than the use of seed grown on a different soil. The 

 ideal way of keeping seed is believed to be in cold storage at about 

 :',:> k. Properly stored seed will given good crop even it' planted late. 

 Several weeks before planting the seed should be spread one layer 



