146 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 145 



bought in the open market for feed. The weight per bushel 

 is usually high on account of the oats being clipped and con- 

 taining more or less barley. The results would indicate that a 

 greater yield of from five to ten bushels per acre can be obtained 

 by sowing a regular variety of seed oats than by using the 

 uncertain mixtures from the fed bin. 



THE RUST OF OATS. 



This disease is the result of a fungus which attacks the leaves 

 and stems of the oat plant about the time it is heading out or 

 in some cases several weeks before. Its presence is made mani- 

 fest by the yellowish or reddish brown appearance of the oats 

 which is caused by the clusters of fungus spores. The effect of 

 the disease is a weakening of the vitality of the plant to such an 

 extent that it fails to produce seed and frequently breaks down 

 and dies. In some sections of the state the rust is unquestion- 

 ably the worst pest of the oats. Although its depredations are 

 somewhat periodic, being more disastrous some years than others, 

 the most destructive attacks come in seasons of unusual moisture 

 and warmth during the month of June, which induces the oats 

 to make a large, quick growth. Whether this quick, succulent 

 growth renders the plant more susceptible to the attacks of the 

 fungus or whether the stated weather conditions are more con- 

 genial for the growth of the fungus, the writer is unable to say — 

 perhaps both premises maintain. 



Since no remedy for the disease is known, all that can be done 

 in a practical way to combat it is to select those varieties for 

 seeding which are in a measure, at least, rust resistant. Among 

 these are Long's White Tartar, Hamilton and Kherson. The 

 time of seeding also seems to have an appreciable effect upon the 

 extent of rusting. The writer has frequently observed that early 

 sown fields of oats have suffered less from rust than late sown 

 ones. 



Til 1906, for the purpose of getting some data regarding the 

 date of seeding as affecting the rust on oats, a series of small 

 plots, 5x7 feet, were planted with the same variety (Welcome) 

 at intervals of one week from April 20 to June 8. The plots 

 being small, the yield of grain was not measured, but carefully 

 estimated after an examination of the panicles. 



