Experimental Error in Crop Tests 
23 
five-row plats. In rows competition caused the Nebraska No. 
28 to yield relatively 25.9 per cent too low. In this test the 
Nebraska No. 28 five-row plats were harvested as separate 
rows. The center three rows, free from com.petition with the 
ranker growing Turkey Red variety, yielded 21.0 per cent 
more per row than did the two outside rows. The three 
inside rows also yielded 7.7 per cent more per row than did 
the entire five-row plat. 
The straw yields for 1914 indicate similar effect of com- 
petition. Compared in alternating single-row plats, the ratio 
of Turkey Red to Nebraska No. 28 straw yields was 100:53, 
while in five-row plats this ratio was 100:80. The center 
three rows yielded 19.1 per cent more straw per row than 
did the two outer rows, which were obliged to compete with 
Turkey Red. The center three rows also yielded relatively 
6.9 per cent more straw per row than did the entire five- 
row plat with the two outside rows included. 
Oats — Both Burt and Swedish Select oats varieties were 
compared during 1913 and 1914 with Kherson oats in alter- 
nating single-row and alternating five-row plats. 
Kherson oats is the standard early variety grown at the 
Nebraska Experiment Station. Burt oats is rather similar 
in growth habit to the Kherson, ripening at about the same 
time. The Swedish Select is a somewhat taller variety, ripen- 
ing about ten days later. 
Table 6 gives the two years' results with Kherson and Burt 
oats. In 1913 the Burt outyielded the Kherson 30 per cent 
when planted in alternating single rows and 12 per cent in 
alternating five-row plats. Due to competition the Burt 
yielded relatively 16 per cent too high in single-row plats. 
In 1914 the Burt yielded 39 per cent more than the Kher- 
son in alternating single row plats, while it yielded 1 per 
cent more in the three center rows of alternating five-row 
plats. Competition in rows with Kherson oats caused the 
Burt to yield relatively 37.6 per cent too high. If the yields 
of the entire five-row plats are taken, the ratio of Kherson 
to Burt oats is 100:109 as compared with 100:101 for the 
three inside rows, and 100:120 for the two outside rows. 
The straw yields which were obtained for 1914 gave 
very similar results. In alternating single rows the ratio 
of Kherson to Burt straw yields was 100:139. For the three 
inside rows of alternating five-row plats the ratio was 
100:109. For the entire five-row plats the ratio was 100:117. 
For the two outside rows it was 100 :129. 
