2 BULLETIIsr 823, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



from 4 to 14 years. The large mass of data now available indicates 

 quite definitely the adaptability of these varieties to the different sec- 

 tions of the United States and their value in comparison with other 

 oats. It is the purpose of this bulletin to assemble these data and to 

 present such conclusions as they appear to warrant. 



SOURCES OF DATA. 



Three sources of data have been drawn upon for this publication, 

 viz, the results of experiments conducted independently by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, of those conducted cooperatively 

 by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State agri- 

 cultural experiment stations, and those conducted independently by 

 the State agricultural experiment stations. Data from the last-men- 

 tioned source are included in order to present fully the present status 

 of the Kherson and Sixty-Day varieties in the United States. Full 

 credit is given in all cases where such data are used. In a number of 

 instances where results have not been published recently the experi- 

 ments have been summarized for this bulletin by oflB.cials of the various 

 stations. 



The data presented herein have been obtained under a wide range 

 of climatic and soil conditions. However, the varietal yields obtained 

 at any one place should be fairly comparable, while the data from 

 several stations in the same general area supplement each other. At 

 nearly all stations the aim has been to grow the varieties in the varietal 

 experiments under conditions similar to those on the best farms in 

 the localities where the experiments were conducted. 



Those experiments which have been conducted under similar con- 

 ditions have been grouped whenever practicable. The results obtained 

 in the eastern half or humid portion of the United States are presented 

 first, followed by those obtained in the western half or semiarid portion, 

 including the results of a few experiments on irrigated land. 



In addition to the presentation of data on yield of grain, brief 

 statements on yield of straw, weight per bushel, percentage of hull, 

 and the improvement of Kherson and Sixty-Day oats are included 

 in this buUetin. 



HISTORY OF KHERSON AND SIXTY-DAY OATS. 



Both the Kherson and the Sixty-Day oats were introduced into the 

 United States from southern Russia. The first lot of the Kherson 

 oats sent to this country was obtained by the Nebraska Agricultural 

 Experiment Station (24)^ in 1896 through Prof. F. W. Taylor, then 

 superintendent of farmers' institutes in Nebraska, while traveling 

 through Russia. As it was obtained in the Kherson Govern- 



1 The serial numbers in parentheses refer to '' Literature cited " at the end of the bulletin. 



