196 FIELD CROPS 



In the soaking treatments, the seed should be stirred sufficiently so that 

 it is all thoroughly wet. After it has been soaked the required time, it 

 should be drained and dried. The seed which is sprinkled should be 

 covered with a heavy cloth over night and dried the following day. 

 A germination test should then be made of each sample. Some of them 

 will probably show some injury from the treatment. If the seed is 

 known to be infected with smut to some extent, it will be interesting to 

 grow small lots from the different samples on the experimental grounds 

 and determine the effectiveness of the different treatments. 



5. Plant lots of oat grains in a box or in the open gi'ound, covering 

 them, 1, 2, 3, and 4 inches deep. Determine the percentage of germi- 

 nation at each of the different depths. 



6. Let each student bring a sample of oats from home and score it 

 according to the score card (Section 240) or, if preferred, the card used 

 in your state agricultural college. Write the reasons for the markings 

 given. If several samples can be scored by each student, so much the 

 better. Check up each score carefullj'. 



REFERENCES 



Cyclopedia of American Agriculture, Vol. II, Bailey. 



Farm Crops, Burkett. 



Cereals in America, Hunt. 



Field Crop Production, Livingston. 



Productive Farm Crops, Montgomery. 



The Small Grains, Carleton. 



Southern Field Crops, Duggar. 



Farmers' Bulletins: 



436. Winter Oats for the South. 



892. Spring Oat Production. 



938. Cereal Smuts and the Disinfection of Seed Grain 



