The total number of reports sent in, and the numbers of 

 successes and failures, are given in brackets after the name 

 of each county. Less than half of the total number of reports 

 received have been summarised in the Appendix. The 

 methods and experiences of farmers have frequently been 

 so much alike, that no good purpose would have been served 

 by including all. An endeavour has been made to furnish 

 examples from all parts of the country. In the case of coun- 

 ties from which many reports have come, those illustrations 

 have been included which give most information, or which 

 represent a common type. 



Black Tartarian oats have been grown frequently and white 

 Tartarian oats have also been papular in the south. These 

 varieties are named when they have been reported. In the 

 other cases, ordinary white oats have been grown, the 

 varieties differing with the district. Where crops have been 

 sown at high elevations, the height above sea level is 

 mentioned. 



In a few cases the history of a field broken up before 

 1917 has been reported and some of these reports have been 

 included. 



II. 

 LESSONS FROM THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF 1917. 



As stated in the opening paragraph, it has been argued 

 during the past few months that it is hopeless to attempt to 

 plough out old grass land in the expectation of adding to 

 the nation's food. The experience of 1917 does not sup- 

 port this contention. It shows not only that the successes 

 far outnumber the failures, but that the latter are to some 

 extent preventable. Failures occurred chiefly in the south 

 and east. They are comparatively rare elsewhere. In by 

 far the greater number of cases they have been attributed 

 to wireworms. 



The wireworm is bad enough, but is not as vile as his 

 reputation. Much of the damage put down to wireworms 

 was primarily due to the drying out of the newly ploughed 

 soil through lack of proper tillage ; and in the south much 

 damage, which the wireworm was supposed to do, was, in 

 reality, caused by the frit fly. Many remedies for these insect 

 pests have been suggested. The most satisfactory are 

 those which depend on suitable tillage. Frit flies are most 

 troublesome in the case of crops sown in mid-season. Oats 

 sown before March 15th and after April 15th may escape 

 when crops sown between these dates may be destroyed. 

 Wireworms are most destructive in loose open soils, partly 

 because they can get about easily, and partly because crops, 



