OAT VARIETIES FOR THE CORN BELT 
15 
given the annual and average acre yields of Richland oats sown at 
rates varying from 2 to 4% bushels per acre. 
Table 11. — Annual and average acre yields {in bushels) of Richland oats sown 
in rate-of-seeding experiments at the loica Agricultural Experbncnt Station 
diirlng the six-year period from 1912 to 1917, inclusive 
Rate of seeding per acre 
Year 
2 
bushels 
bushels 
3 
bushels 
bushels 
4 
bushels 
bushels 
1912 
83.6 
70.6 
51.4 
82.3 
55. 6 
73.7 
80.5 
68.7 
51.4 
83.4 
55.0 
78.1 
79.7 
72.5 
59.0 
82.3 
57.0 
87.5 
78.1 
76.9 
55.2 
83.6 
58.8 
87.5 
75.8 
72.8 
55.6 
81.6 
58.2 
81.2 
72.7 
1913 
67.5 
1914 
55.0 
1915 
83.6 
1916_ 
53.5 
1917. 
68.7 
Average . . . 
69.5 
69.5 
73.0 
73.4 
70.9 
66.8 
The data in Table 11 show that the optimum net rate of seeding 
for the 6-year period was 3 bushels per acre. Above this rate an 
increase in rate of seeding was not profitable, and above the 3%- 
bushel rate there Avas an actual decrease in yield, the decrease being 
greater with the increase in rate of seeding. 
lOWAR 
lowar, a white strain of Kherson, is the third pure-line oat variety 
developed in the cooperative oat experiments at the Iowa Agricul- 
tural Experiment Station that has been distributed to farmers. 
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION 
History. — lowar was isolated from Kherson in 1910 by the senior 
writer. It was carried under the tentative designation of Iowa No. 
779 and was named lowar when first distributed to farmers. The 
nursery results in 1912, 1913, and 1914 were so favorable that it was 
increased and placed in the plat experiments in 1916. It was imme- 
diately apparent that this new strain excelled Albion in at least 
two very important characters, namely, in yielding ability and in 
height of plant. As there was a rather insistent demand for a 
variety of this type, it was decided to increase lowar at once and 
to test it immediately on Iowa farms. The variety was first dis- 
tributed to farmers of Iowa in 1919. Its increase and distribution 
have continued each year. 
Descriptio7i. — Early growth erect; plant early. Culms slender to 
midsized, weak, glabrous or slightly hairy at the nodes, 70 to 110 
centimeters tall. Sheaths deep green, usually glabrous; culm leaves 
narrow to midwide, margins usually glabrous. Peduncle slender, 
straight, usually well exserted. Panicle equilateral, usually erect, 
midbroad, ovate; rachis nodes five to six; branches short to midlong, 
usually ascending, scabrous. Spikelets few to numerous, usually two- 
flowered; kernels slender. Empty glume 20 to 24 millimeters long, 
5 to 7 millimeters wide, 8 to 9 veined, light green before maturity. 
Lower lemma 15 to 18 millimeters long, white; basal hairs few or 
