BULLETIN NO. 188^ 



FIELD EXPERIMENTS. 

 Reported by Charles D. Woods. 



variety test of oats, i9io. 



According to the Yearbook, of the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture the oat crop in the State of Maine for 1909 amounted to 

 4,558,000 bushels. The value of this crop on December i, 1909, 

 is given as $2,661,000. Only two other crops, (potatoes and 

 hay) exceeded oats in the total amount of wealth produced in 

 the State. Nevertheless it is clear that the majority of the 

 farmers in the State devote but little attention to oats as a 

 grain crop. It is seldom that one finds a farmer who plants 

 more than a few acres and these are often cut green and used 

 for hay. Yet the ease with which the oat crop can be seeded, 

 its resistance to late frosts, its adaptability to our clirnate and 

 soil conditions and the high price which the grain brings in 

 the eastern market, recommend it as a profitable crop. More 

 attention to cultural methods and to seed selection are practical- 

 ly certain to yield greatly increased returns with this crop. 



On account of the importance of this crop to the farmers of 

 the State, the Experiment Station has long desired to under- 

 take some experiments relating to better methods of culture 

 than those usually practiced and better seed. The acquisition 

 of Highmoor Farm for experimental purposes made it possible 

 to start some of this work in 19 10. 



Many of the poor yields of oats are due to poor seed. For 

 this reason it is proposed to undertake some breeding or seed 

 improvement work with oats. The aim of this work will be to 

 obtain varieties which are better adapted to our conditions and 

 which will yield a greater number of bushels per acre. 



* Experiments on top dressing mowing land and the effect of differ- 

 ent methods of culture of potatoes were begun in igio. These will be 

 reported when completed. 



