BULLETIN 229. 



STUDIES ON OAT BREEDING. 

 I. VARIETY TESTS, 1910-1913/ 



BY 



Frank M. Surface and Clarence W. Barber. 



Owing to the shortness of the growing season as well as to 

 other factors, it is not possible for Maine to compete, on a large 

 scale at least, with more southern states in the production of 

 certain crops. For example the growing of field corn on a 

 moderate scale and for home consumption is a very profitable 

 venture for the Maine farmer, yet owing to the small and early 

 varieties which it is necessary to grow he cannot hope to com- 

 pete with the corn belt of the middle west in the growing of 

 field corn as a "money" crop. On the other hand, there are 

 certain crops to which the climate of Maine is particularly well 

 adapted. Under our conditions of cHmate and soil, potatoes, 

 sweet corn and apples acquire particular characters of texture 

 and flavor which have made the trade mark "Maine grown" a 

 guarantee of their ready sale at prices well above the general 

 market. 



A consideration of the climatic conditions of Maine indicate 

 that of the cereal crops, oats is the one most suitable for this 

 state. The statistics of oat production show that they do best 

 in a northern climate. Oats require cool weather and an abund- 

 ance of moisture to do their best. They do well on soil that is 

 not too fertile so that fields which are often unprofitable in corn 

 will do well in oats. 



^Papers from the Biological Laboratory of Maine Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station, No. 67. 



