On the Dyoch Oat. 



389 



shire, for field-culture. Whether any adverse circumstances in time of 

 rearing had deteriorated the quality I am not enabled to state ; but, so far 

 as is known to me, the quality of the corn was neither so good, nor the 

 returns so abundant, as both have been since this oat came through the 

 hands of my neighbour Mr. Davidson. Last year I saw samples from Mr, 

 Dyock's original stock in Bantfshire, but they appeared coarse and husky ; 

 and lam not aware if the kind is there considered worthy of cultivation. 

 The half-ounce with which Mr. Davidson commenced was first sown in 

 1830, and, by great care and attention in nursing this small quantity, he 

 was enabled, by 1834, to dispose of small quantities for seed. I received a 

 quarter m the spring of 1835, which I sowed, and was so well pleased with 

 the return, that I have continued to cultivate the kind every succeeding 

 season with success. Mr. Davidson had raised twelve and fourteen returns 

 from his seed annually ; his land being a good black loam, and at a lower 

 elevation than mine. I resolved on trying the oat on one of my highest 

 lying fields, where the soil was neither deep nor rich. To shorten details, 

 I have condensed the result of ray experiments in cultivating Dyock's im- 

 proved early oat into a tabular form. The produce may not be thought 

 great by persons accustomed to crops on superior land ; but those who farm 

 late high-lying soils may hold a different opinion. 



Date of 

 Sowinjj, 



1835, Mar. 29 



1836, Mar. 28 



— Apr. 28 



1837, Apr. 8 



— — 17 



1838, Apr. 5 



— — 20 



Quantity 

 Sown. 



Qrs. Bus. 



1 



4 



5 



1 2 

 4 6 

 4 3 

 3 1 



Extent of 

 Ground. 



Imp. Ac. 



5375 

 4410 



Description of Soil. 



Grey loam, dry bottom . 

 Black loam, stift'clay bottom 

 Red, poor clay, wettish . 

 Heavy soil on clay 

 Tliin free soil, till bottom 

 Good, free, black loam . 

 Mixed, clayey, and late . 



Date of 

 Reaping. 



Sept. 9 



— 16 

 Oct. 3 



Sept. 14 



— 18 

 _ 14 



Oct. 10 



Produce. 



Qrs. Bus. 

 8 3 



18 1 

 2 

 7 1 







\Vt. per 

 Bush. 



lbs. 

 431- 

 43 



Results, as compared with Potato, Flemish, and Kildrummy Oals, sown on the 

 same Fields at the same Dates. 



" In this season (1839) I sowed Dyock's oats in parts of four fields; but 

 I have only got the return of grain from one piece of 2 acres. The pro- 

 duce is 6 quarters per acre, and weighs 40 lbs. per bushek The grain was 

 stained by rain when in stocks, and, though not so fine as I have formerly 

 grown, will yet bear comparison with any other kind of oats grown in this 

 neighbourhood this season. Last year, for comparative trial, I sowed, on a 



