CEREAL EXPERIMENTS IX MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. 35 



varieties and selections, of which only 5 have been grown since 1911. 

 A I Arlington Farm 19 varieties and selections have been included, of 

 which 14 are still grown. 



The varietal tests of winter oats at College Park have been sown on 

 the following dates: October 16, 1907; October 9, 1908; September 29, 

 1909; October 9, 1910; September 20, 1911; October 1, 1912; and Octo- 

 tober 4, 1913. At Arlington Farm the dates were September 23, 1910; 

 September 8, 1911; September II and 14, 1912; and September 29 

 and 30, 1913. The average date of seeding at College Park has been 

 a little more than 2 weeks later than at Arlington Farm. Experience 

 has shown that in most years the date of seeding at Aldington 

 Farm has been too early for the best results. It is believed that if 

 the seeding of winter oats is delayed until late September or early 

 October in this locality, more satisfactory yields usually will be 

 obtained. At higher altitudes than Washington, D. C, earlier seed- 

 ing is advisable. 



The rate of seeding at College Park was 10 pecks in 1908, 1910, 191 1, 

 and 1912; 10* pecks in L909; and 8 pecks in 1913 and 1914. No atten- 

 tion was given to size of kernel in determining the rate of seeding for 

 the several varieties. At Arlington Farm in 1911 the Winter Turf 

 was sown at the rate of 8 pecks, the Bicknell and Culberson at the 

 rate of 10 pecks, and the Red Rustproof at the rate of 14 pecks. In 

 the succeeding years the 8-peck rate was used for all varieties 

 except the Red Rustproof, which was sown at the rate of 12 pecks. 

 These rates have been found quite satisfactory, although it is believed 

 that a rate of 6 pecks is ample for the Winter Turf. The kernels of 

 this variety are small and the plants are hardier and stool more frealy 

 than those of the other varieties; hence, less seed is required. 

 - The low yields obtained from most of the varieties and selections 

 grown at Arlington Farm in 1912 were directly due to winterkilling, 

 a minimum temperature of — 13° F. having been recorded. Thus, 

 the yields of that year are a fair index of the relative hardiness of the 

 several varieties and selections. 



The annual and average yields per acre, in bushels of 32 pounds 

 each, of the varieties and selections included in these tests are pre- 

 sented in Table X. 



The Winter Turf, C. I. No. 180, has produced the highest average 

 yield, 51.3 bushels, in the 7-year test at College Park. The Winter 

 Turf selection, C. I. No. 274-1, ranks second, with an average of 

 48.37 bushels, and the Culberson, C. I. No. 273, third, with 46.3 

 bushels. The Bicknell, C. I. No. 206, which has been grown only 

 six years (1909-1914), has an average yield of 49.88 bushels for that 

 period, as compared with 49.3 bushels for the Winter Turf, 48 bushels 

 for the Winter Turf selection, and 46.95 bushels for the Culberson 

 for the same period. 



