278 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY REPORT. 
OATS. 
As. with the other grain crops, elaborate notes have been taken 
upon many varieties of oats and a system of classification® was soon 
developed for convenience in arranging and discussing these varie- 
ties. This was expanded in 1886.2° The most careful compari- 
sons** made of oat varieties were those reported in 1885. One 
test included only two varieties, the Welcome, representing the 
common type, and the White Russian, representing the side-head 
type. The White Russian yielded one-half more grain than the 
Welcome and somewhat more straw. The one who reports this 
test says: “ This, it is true, is but a local result. It is within the 
limits of possibility that in another region the Welcome might have 
been a superior, yet the trial may stand forth prominently as a test 
that may be read thus. Some one variety of seed may find better 
adaptation on a farm than the seed in use; and the cheapest way to 
secure increase in crop without extra expense in the growing may 
often be from the change of seed from a less prolific variety to a 
greater.” This in a way sets forth recent belief in regard to 
variety testing, for, however carefully such work may be done, it 
can only be suggestive for soils and localities different even in 
minor points from those of the test, yet every such test emphasizes 
the necessity of securing those varieties that are particularly adapted ~ 
to the conditions. What the Station can do is to give unprejudiced, 
expert judgment as to the good and bad qualities and characteristics 
of the different varieties grown side by side, upon which the grower 
may base his choice for the limited selection of varieties he himself 
will test. In case of the White Russian and Welcome oats, for 
example, it was the tendency of the latter to lodge; because of weak 
straw, that reduced its yield. Another useful purpose served by 
the variety tests early in the Station’s history, as in the second test 
of oats, was to call attention to the unreliability of trade names, 
since one variety might appear under many names, or varieties 
really differing greatly be sold under the name of some new or 
promising kind. 
In the report of 1886, notes are given upon sixty-nine so-called 
varieties; but these are all classified under less than half as many 
* Rpt. 3:390 (1884). 
* Rpt. 5:100 (1886). 
* Rpt. 4:56-58, 130, 132 (1885). 
* Rpt. 5:102-114, 119, 120 (1886). 
