MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 7 



should develop a fine dust-like mist. A coarse mist will not do. 

 Spray after the dew has dried off when the plants are in the 

 fourth leaf. Choose, if possible, a bright warm day without 

 Avind. But spray when the plants are the proper size even if the 

 day is not all that could be desired. If the field is badly infested 

 or the conditions of the first spraying v/ere not satisfactory, a 

 second spraying three days later is desirable. Later go over the 

 field and pull by hand any plants that may have escaped. 



Harvesting. 



A word needs to be said as to the time of harvesting, especi- 

 ally with oats to be used for seed. By some authorities direc- 

 tions are given for harvesting as soon as the grain is in a hard 

 dough stage. In our experience this is too early for the best 

 results in this climate. The best criterion we have found for 

 judging ripeness is the color of the straw. We aim to cut our 

 oats as soon as all of the green color is out of the straw. This, 

 of course, applies to the body of the field. There are always 

 marginal plants and a few spots in the field which are still 

 green. If left until this time the grain will be heavier, have a 

 better color and as seed will produce more vigorous plants. 



It hardly needs to be said that the only satisfactory way of 

 harvesting grain is with a self-binder. Harvesting with self- 

 rake reapers and mowing machines is wasteful of time and 

 grain. 



At Highmoor the grain is shocked about eight bundles to a 

 shock and capped with sheaves. Canvas hay caps 4 feet square 

 are also used to cover the shocks. The grain is allowed to stand 

 in the shocks from 10 days to two weeks and i^ then threshed 

 from the field- 

 On Aroostook Farm the uncertainty of the weather makes 

 such field curing very risky. The grain is set up in long loose 

 stocks without caps and allowed to stand three or four days 

 or longer if the weather is not bright. If the grain is well 

 matured wdien cut, three days of bright sunshine will dry out 

 the sheaves very thoroughly. It is then put in the mow and 

 allowed to undergo the "curing" there. In some cases grain 

 has been threshed from the field after standing only 5 or 6 days. 

 No ill results were observed but this method is not advised 

 unless absolutely necessary. Such grain should be frequently 

 stirred for some weeks after threshing. 



