Oct. 28, 1918 Experiments in Field Technic in Plot Tests 



253 



In the spring the plots were sown the full width of the series, which 

 is usually 134 feet. In order to facilitate the removal of end borders 

 accurately at harvest time, shortly after seeding in the spring, two galva- 

 nized-iron wires were stretched exactly 132 feet apart across the ends 

 of the plots. The distance between the wires was checked every fifth 

 plot along the series and the wires anchored securely. A few days before 

 harvest time the grain on the ends of all the plots outside of the lines 

 marked by the two wires was cut and discarded. 



At harvest time the drill row next to the alley on either side of each 

 plot was removed by hand, bound and tagged separately. These are 

 referred to as outside border rows. The second drill rows on either side 

 of each plot were next removed by hand and bound and tagged separately. 

 These are referred to as inside border rows. The 13 remaining 6-inch 

 drill rows were then harv^ested with the self-binder. In harv^esting the 

 central 13 rows with the binder there probably was somewhat more 

 shattering of the grain than occurred in har\^esting the border rows by 

 hand. 



The sizes of the different areas from which yields were determined are 

 summarized for convenience. 



Number of 6-inch drill rows. 



13 



IS 



17 



Dimensions of areas. 



6 inches X 132 feet 

 6.5 feetXi32 feet. 

 7.5 feetXi32 feet. 

 8.5 feetXi32 feet. 



Part of an acre. 



1/660 



1/50- 77 

 1/44 

 1/38. 82 



The grain from the portions of the plots which were har\'ested sepa- 

 rately were threshed with a small machine and the yields of each com- 

 puted. The number of pounds of grain threshed from the central 13 

 rows and from the two inside border rows of each plot were then added, 

 and from this the yields of the plots with one border row removed from 

 either side of each plot were computed. The number of pounds threshed 

 from all parts of each plot were then totaled, and the yields for the plots 

 with no border rows computed. 



DISTANCE WITHIN PLOTS AT WHICH PLANTS ARE SUBJECT TO 



BORDER EFFECT 



For the purpose of determining the distance within plots affected by 

 adjacent alleys, the yields of the outside border rows, the inside border 

 rows, and the average of the central 13 rows of four plots of each variety 

 of oats, wheat, and barley are available. These yields are summarized 

 in Table I. 



