188 FIELD CROPS 



230. Preparing the Seed for Planting. It is even more 

 important to grade seed oats before sowing than seed wheat, 

 for in most years there is a larger proportion of weak, 

 shrunken kernels in oats than in wheat. These kernels are 

 slow in germinating, or do not grow at all; the plants pro- 

 duced from them are small and weak, and never yield so well 

 as those from large, plump kernels. Oats very frequently 

 contain a considerable proportion of weed seeds, chaff, and 



Fig. 64. Some of the largest and heaviest grains out of the same lot as the 

 sample shown in Fig. 63. Weight, 39 pounds to the bushel. 



dirt, all of which tend to reduce the stand by lessening the 

 quantity of good seed which is sown. Thorough cleaning 

 of the seed with the fanning mill or by some other means is 

 advisable, and usually pays well for the necessary time and 

 labor. Treating the seed with a solution of formaldehyde 

 before sowing will destroy oat smut (Sec. 244). Details of 

 the treatment have already been given (Sec. 205). 



