526 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



is apt to be deposited at too great a depth, and to be in danger of 

 either being in some measure destroyed, or of coming up in an 

 irregular manner. I have practiced the drill culture with this 

 crop and found great utility in it. 



Oats are supposed to be more liable than other kinds of grain 

 to degenerate, by being too long continued on the same land; 

 which has led to the practice of some districts, to change it for 

 such as has been imported from other countries. In my opinion 

 tliis is an erroneous idea with regard to this particular grain, as 

 I have shown an improvement in successive years, from 20 lbs. 

 to 48 lbs. per bushel. And I believe this expensive practice may 

 be rendered unnecessary with regard to all our cereal productions, 

 by collecting and sowing the best and most perfect of our own 

 produce, we may greatly improve them both in quality and ap- 

 pearance. 



The only culture necessary for the oat crop while growing is 

 that of keeping it as clean and free from weeds as possible, by 

 means of hand weeding, and to pass a light roller over the crop, 

 under certain circumstances, after it is advanced a few inches in 

 height, when the ground has I^een sliglitly moistened by rain, by 

 which the cloddiness of the surface is reduced, and the plants in 

 some measure earthed up, and the progress of the crop not only 

 much promoted, l^ut where tliin, the plants rendered more thick 

 upon the land by the tillering that is thus produced. 



Oat crops are ready for the cradle when the straw exhibits a 

 yellowish cast, and the chaff' opens in such a manner as to render 

 the grain in some degree naked. This crop does not require to 

 be so dry when put into barn or stack, as those of either wheat 

 or barley. 



It is often the practice in this crop, as well as that of wheat, 

 when the farmer thinks there is danger of its being too rank or 

 luxuriant in its growth, to feed it down with sheep in tlie spring 

 months. This method in my opinion is wrong, particularly with 

 oats, as this grain is not in general apt to be injured either by 

 the luxuriance of its growth or being lodged, so says my friend 

 R. W. Dickson. 



Rev. Mr. White confirmed for the most part what was said by 

 Mr. Pell. 



Orange Judd said that 100 bushels an acre had been produced 

 in Maine on new land. So stated recently by Mr. Waring. 



Prof. Mapes — One half oats and the other carrots form excel- 

 lent food for working horses and mnles. The pectic acid in 



