494 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



a large percentage of the present production has descended from 

 the 20 bushels received in 1899. 



Trials by Experiment Stations. A large part of the seed of the 

 first introduction was placed immediately with the agricultural ex- 

 periment stations in the Northern States and planted in the spring 

 of 1899. From this time forward the most extensive trials have 

 been made at the experiment stations in Wisconsin, North Dakota, 

 and Montana. 



"WISCONSIN. 



The results obtained by the Wisconsin Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station have been exceedingly interesting. Only 6 pounds of 

 seed were sent to the station, and this quantity was sown on a tenth- 

 acre plat. 



The results were so favorable that an effort was put forth to im- 

 prove them by selection and careful grading of the seed for each sea- 

 son's crop. In all comparisons with selected varieties of oats the 

 Swedish were equal to the best in point of yield and had several de- 

 sirable characteristics superior to other varieties. 



Concerning the good qualities of this variety it was said that 

 the Swedish Select oats (Wisconsin No. 4) seem especially adapted 

 for high, well-drained land, and the best-known returns from clay- 

 loam soils. The great root development is one of the characteristics of 

 the Swedish oats, which enables the plant to resist drought better 

 than any other variety tested. The straw is coarse and is noted for 

 its stiffness and power to withstand lodging. The Swedish oats 

 lodged for the first time during the four years' test on the experi- 

 mental farm the past season, this being due to the severe storm of 

 July. 



On the experiment station farm such good results were obtained 

 in 1899 and 1900 that 7% acres were sown in 1901, with the view 

 of increasing the quantity of seed for distribution throughout the 

 State. This crop made 306 bushels, a yield of 40.8 bushels per acre, 

 in spite of the serious drought of that season. This drought, though 

 it appears to have been particularly severe at Madison, where this 

 good crop of Swedish Select oats was grown, was general through- 

 out the State, and, in fact, throughout the Northwest. The average 

 yield of oats for the State was thereby reduced to less than 30 bushels 

 per acre. There is shown, therefore, in this comparison a striking 

 exhibition of the drought-resisting quality of the Swedish Select. 



The yield per acre of the Swedish Select oat as an average for 

 10 years is 50.8 bushels and is 8.5 bushels greater than the average 

 yield of all other varieties tested during this time. An average of 

 the highest yield reached by any other variety during the period is 

 63.1 bushels. This statement must not be misunderstood. The 

 highest yield was not made by the same variety each year. The 

 Swedish Select made the greatest average yield for the 10-year period. 



The results of a 10-year yield test of the Swedish Select oat in 

 comparison with that of a number of other good varieties at the Wis- 

 consin Agricultural Experiment Station are summarized below in 



