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noted in the relative productivity between the largest, plumpest kernels 

 and the smaller or medium sized kernels of the same variety. 



That which is most essential, however, is that the exact parentage 

 of the seed be known, in other words, ancestry is of far greater importance 

 than the relative size of the seed itself. The germ plays a greater part 

 in the ultimate commercial worth of the plant than the amount of plant 

 food contained within the seed. Therefore, while we like to plant nice 

 large kernels, they need not necessarily be the plumpest or the largest, 

 but they must be free from weed seeds. There is no use whatsoever in 

 repeatedly planting the same weed seeds year after year, they come easy 

 enough without planting. 



The preparation of the seed bed should be given much attention; 

 conditions differ, of course, in different parts of the country, but in the 

 main the more finely pulverized, the more mellow the seed bed the better 

 the chances of a maximum crop. Harrow and re-harrow repeatedly, for 

 every harrowing will add to the crop. 



The matter of seeding is also of importance. We have preferred 

 using a single disk drill, although it is not necessary. Just as good 

 results have been secured from broadcasting, but drilling will give a 

 greater advantage in a dry season owing to a more even placing and 

 covering of the seed. 



The rate of seeding is essential; it is always our practice with oats 

 in particular to plant rather thickly, from three to four bushels per acre. 

 We do this largely to prevent stooling or tillering. Although large heads 

 are generally secured on the stools, still the berry produced on the stool 

 will in turn produce a weaker plant than the berry from the parent stalk 

 and ultimately will result in deterioration of the crop from year to year. 

 Further, by ehmination of stools, early ripening, more even growth and a 

 less proportion of by-product or straw, a greater proportion of salable 

 product or oats is secured. We would much prefer the complete ehmina- 

 tion of stooling if for no other reason than to secure a practically com- 

 plete control of the crop. From so many berries planted of a certain 

 germination so many plants will be secured and only so many, and the 

 matter of uncertainty with reference to stand would be done away with. 



With wheat we prefer planting from one and a half, to one bushel and 

 three pecks and barley from two to two and a half bushels per acre. 



One of the main difficulties with oats has been that plants are 

 caught in the so-called milk stage by warm dry weather and the filHng 

 of the berry is seriously interfered with. But by using a variety adapted 

 and planting early in the spring the plants will be over this stage before 

 they are injured by the hot weather. 



Crop rotation and intensive farming are as important as any other 

 departments. It is useless to presume that we can secure maximum 

 returns by continually cropping year after year without a change. One 

 crop must follow another in such a way as to leave the soil in the best 



