EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 



621 



The question confronting a very large number of Iowa farmers is, 

 "What am I to do for seed oats this spring?" 



It is to be noted that Iowa devotes on an average 4,144,463 acres 

 annually to oats having an average yield of 29.5 bushels per acre, 

 a total of 123,422,880 bushels worth $35,764,205.00. 



*IOWA'S OAT CROP, 1903-1907. 



*Year Book, Iowa Dept. of Agriculture. 



The past season has been a very exceptional one. It has influenced to 

 a marked degree all varieties of oats. Those which have proven the 

 best in yield during a period of years with favorable conditions, though 

 affected by the unfavorable conditions of the past season, have stood 

 the test, proving to be varieties of high yielding value. 



The oat crop is one of the most neglected. The matter of special 

 varieties, preparing the seed, treatment for smut, and proper preparation 

 of the seed bed is generally overlooked. This kind of management has re- 

 sulted in a low income per acre until it has become common to hear the ex- 

 pression that "Oats are not a paying crop but are necessary for a 

 rotation." 



It is the purpose of this bulletin to assist farmers in selecting their 

 seed oats, treating the seed, and preparing the seed bed. Proper at- 

 tention to these matters will add millions of bushels annually to the 

 Income of the state. 



THE VARIETY TEST. 



During the past ten years 70 varieties of oats have been grown at the 

 Iowa Experiment Station. These have been raised on plats of equal size 

 and of as nearly equal fertility as the Station fields will permit; 

 so that the unprofitable kinds could be weeded out and a higher average 

 maintained. This average deals with both yield and quality and the 

 varieties dropped have been discarded for low yield, poor quality or 

 lack of power to resist disease and drought. 



The number of days growth required by these varieties ranges from 90 

 to 110. While it may be said that early oats are usually the best yielders, 

 still some of the medium varieties ripening in from 95 to 100 days have 

 done fully as well, and in some seasons have even exceeded them. The 

 comparative yield of these two groups is largely a matter of season and 

 depends upon the weather conditions at the time of flowering and 

 filling. In years like 1906, with its splendid growing season, the best 

 medium varieties out-yield the earlier ones. In seasons with very hot. 



