r ArrKHsoN 1 POTA TOES AND OA TSASNA TURE-STUD Y TOPICS 233 



others not more than half had begun to germinate. The oats 

 that we were to use in our garden plots showed that ninety-eight 

 and ninety-nine percent respectively had germinated. 



Different methods of planting were discussed, and the class 

 decided to plant in drills rather than broadcast. A laboratory 

 experiment helped to determine the proper depth to plant. In a 

 glass jar filled with garden soil, oats were planted at various 

 depths. It was found that those two inches and less below the 

 surface germinated more quickly, and made a more rapid growth 

 than the others. This, combined with the knowledge gained from 

 reading reports of experiment stations, led to the decision to 

 plant less than two inches deep. 



We had four plots twenty-five feet square, and two twelve 

 and a half by twenty-five feet. Kherson oats was planted on one 

 of the twenty-five foot plots and Swedish on the other to deter- 

 mine the difference in yields of these two varieties. 



On the other plots experiments were made to test the value- 

 of treating seed for smut. One plot was planted with seed 

 treated with a weak solution of formalin. To treat the seed we 

 put it into a gunny sack and then dipped it into the solution 

 allowing it to remain ten minutes. We then spread it out to dry 

 and planted it the next day. Another plot was planted with the 

 same kind of seed untreated. 



One-half of the fifty-foot plot was planted with seed that 

 had been placed for a few moments in water heated to one hun- 

 dred and twenty-five degrees, Fahrenheit. The other half with 

 the same seed untreated. 



After the plants began to appear above the ground they 

 were observed from time to time and habits of growth noted. 

 When the oats were about three inches high the weather turned 

 suddenly cold, the temperature falling three or four degrees 

 below freezing. The oats were watched with considerable inter- 

 est to see whether or not they were able to stand the low tempera- 

 ture. The students were surprised to find that there was little 

 effect ; some of the leaf tips were browned a trifle, that was all. 



This observation led to a study of the history of the oats 

 and the kind of climate in which it thrives best. Some interest- 

 ing data were collected. It was found that the importance of oats 

 as a crop is greatest in northern regions ; that some of the best 

 varieties, in fact the two we were using, had originated in 



