The Seeding of Grain. 



443 



Abundance grown in Canada with an equal number grown at 

 Paisley or Newton in the table on page 442. 



In an experiment carried out in 1893 and 1894 at one of 

 the Government Experimental Farms in Canada, oats gave a 

 much greater yield drilled at the rate of 2 bushels per acre 

 than at 2 1 bushels. In the southern counties of England 2 J 

 to 3! bushels of oats is a common quantity to sow per acre, 

 in the best districts of Scotland 3J to 4 bushels is usual 

 where the seed is drilled, and 4 | to 5 bushels where it is sown 

 broadcast by hand or machine, while in some districts and 

 with some varieties, 5 to 6 bushels are commonly sown per 

 acre broadcasted by hand. 



Germination of the Seed. 



In the above remarks on the quantity of seed which it has 

 been presumed should be sown to get certain results, every 

 seed was calculated to grow. It is well known that this is 

 not always the case, for many seeds are killed through being 

 badly saved, improperly ripened, or by damage during the 

 thrashing and dressing, and occasionally by being too old. 

 These are defects which are usually quite visible in the 

 grains, and need not specially be referred to here, as well 

 ripened, properly kept, thrashed and dressed grain usually 

 lias from 97 to 98 per cent, or over of germinating 

 -seeds. 



Change of Seed. 



As to the benefits of a change of seed, everybody is 

 practically of the same opinion. There is, however, consider- 

 able difference of opinion as to whether seed gives the best 

 return the. first or second year after being changed. Those 

 who maintain that the principal gain is in the second year do 

 so on the ground that the plant is then acclimatised to the 

 change, that it yields better, and that the cost of seeding is 

 much reduced. I cannot refer to any reliable tests that have 

 been carried out which prove or disprove this belief. In 

 1900, and again in 190 1, plots of \ acre were sown with various 

 oats grown on this farm, and brought from a distance in 



