STUDIES ON OAT BREEDING. 143 



In 1912 each variety of oats was planted in duplicate. One 

 one-tenth acre plot was sown in field A in the north half of the 

 farm and its duplicate in field B in the south half. (cf. Fig. 53). 

 Field B being better drained was ready for seeding before 

 field A. Field B produced potatoes in 1911 and in preparation 

 for the oat variety tests was plowed in the fall of that year. 

 Before planting this field was thoroughly harrowed twice, once 

 lengthwise and once crosswise, with cutaway harrows. Then 

 smoothing and levelmg of the land was accomplished by using 

 spiketooth harrows. The soil is a medium loam, one which 

 works up in excellent shape becoming mellow and finely pul- 

 verized. Such preparation makes a splendid seed bed. With 

 the exception of one small area this field is naturally well 

 drained, having a good slope so that no water stands on the 

 surface. 



Field A is not so quickly drained as field B and as a result 

 could not be harrowed and seeded until nearly three weeks later 

 This field comprises practically the same soil conditions as 

 field B. This field was harrowed three times with springtooth 

 harrows finally smoothed and leveled with spiketooth harrows. 

 Owing to the frecjuent heavy rains and lateness of the season 

 for seeding oats the soil could not be worked into the most 

 mellow and desirable condition for a seed bed. 



Each of these fields was fertilized at the rate of 500 lbs. per 

 acre of a high grade fertilizer containing 4 percent nitrogen, 8 

 percent phosphoric acid and 7 percent potash. In past seasons 

 the fertilizer had been applied in the drill at the time of seeding. 

 This year the fertilizer was broadcasted and harrowed in before 

 planting. 



In 191 3 the variety test plots were located in the light sandy 

 field to the north of the Baldwin orchard (cf. Fig. 53). This 

 field slopes rather sharply towards the northwest. In 1910 this 

 field was planted in oats without fertilizer of any kind in order 

 to test the uniformity of the soil. In 191 1 a crop of buckwheat 

 was turned under for green manure. In 1912 this field was in 

 potatoes. The field was plowed in the fall of 1912. In the 

 spring of 1913 the ground was harrowed several times with 

 springtooth harrows. Owing to the light soil this was sufficient 

 to produce a good seed bed. Just before seeding the field was 

 fertilized at the rate of 650 lbs. per acre of a 4-8-7 fertilizer. 



