EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART X. 



635 



DRILLING VS. BROADCASTING. 



When the oats are sowed broadcast instead of drilled, a heavier seed- 

 ing is desirable as much of the seed remains uncovered or at best is only 

 shallowly buried and thus fails to sprout until several days late. This 

 produces a field that looks spotted all through the season. 



The use of the drill is a much neglected point in the oat culture of 

 the state. It has been held that drilling is not a very important factor 

 with the oat crop, but it is evident that the drill not only saves seed 

 but also increases the yield. 



In seasons like 1907 with its cold, dry spring it is surprising to note 

 the small number of acres required to offset the cost of a drill. Our 

 data shows an increase of over nine bushels per acre in favor of drilling. 

 Figuring this at 33 1-3 cents per bushel we find that less than 35 acres 

 would have paid for a drill last year. So large a difference would hardly 

 be expected in years more favorable to oat production, still an even 

 stand is always desirable. A large amount of broadcast seed never 

 comes up. The following table shows the results for the season of 



1907with our two best varieties on plats side by side: 



Table Showing The Loss Occasioned by Broadcast Seeding of Oats. 



In addition to the above advantages secured by drilling over sowing 

 broadcast, the drill has a decided advantage when oats are used as a 

 nurse crop. Grass seeder attachments may be purchased with the drill. 

 By drilling north and south the rays of the sun can more easily reach 

 the young clover and timothy plants than when the grain has been 

 sown broadcast. This is very helpful in producing plants that are 

 stronger and more vigorous. 



CONCLUSION. 



Iowa raises on an average of 29.5 bushels of oats per acre. The 

 highest yield in five years has been 34 bushels. The result of the work 

 at this Station shows that the yield of oats in Iowa can be substantially 

 increased. By the use of better varieties, a better quality of seed, 

 treatment for smut, better preparation of seed bed and drilling, this 

 average should be raised to more than 40 bushels per acre. Oats would 

 not then be merely "A crop necessary for rotation." 



