FALL-SOWN OATS IN THE SOUTH ah 
The area lying between isotherms 30° and 20° F. constitutes a transi- 
tional zone in which both fall-sown and spring-sown oats are grown. 
In this area only the hardier varieties of fall-sown oats can be grown 
successfully. South of isotherm 20° F. fall-sown oats is a fairly 
certain crop, except in unusually cold seasons, when stands are 
reduced by winterkilling. Here strains of the so-called warm- 
climate varieties, Red Rustproof and Fulghum, are better adapted 
than the hardier ones, such as Winter Turf. 
The development of varieties of fall-sown oats hardier than those 
now available is undoubtedly still the most pressing problem in con- 
nection with winter-oat improvement. Second in importance is the 
production of strains resistant to leaf rust. 
During the last 15 years strains of the Winter Turf variety have 
produced the highest average yields in the plot varietal experiments 
at the Arlington Experiment Farm, Rosslyn, Va. The Culberson 
strains rank second. Red Rustproof and Fulghum can not compete 
with the first-named varieties because of lack of winter resistance. 
Lee, a new variety developed from a hybrid between Winter Turf 
and Aurora, has produced the highest average yield of all varieties 
during the years in which it has been tested. 
In nursery experiments strains of certain tender types such as 
Fulghum and Hatchett have produced higher yields than in field 
plots, equaling those of the Winter Turf and Culberson varieties. 
This probably is partially explained by the better winter protection 
afforded by the method of nursery planting. Recent selections rep- 
resenting winter forms of the Fulghum oat have been exceedingly 
promising in yield. 
Varietal experiments have been conducted at Athens, Ashburn, 
Tifton, and Quitman, Ga. At Athens, in northern Georgia, Hasting 
(Hundred Bushel), Bancroft, and Coker Appler, all strains of the 
Red Rustproof variety, have given the highest average yields. 
Fulghum has been a close second to the Hasting and Bancroft 
strains in average yield. Winter Turf and Culberson are poorly adapted 
to Georgia conditions. At Tifton, in southern Georgia, the Hasting 
(Hundred Bushel), Appler, Coker Appler, Bancroft, and Patterson 
strains of Red Rustproof all have slightly exceeded Fulghum in 
yield. Similar results were obtained at Quitman. At Ashburn, how- 
ever, Fulghum decidedly outyielded the best Red Rustproof strains. 
summary of yield data from other southern stations indicates 
that in the Cotton Belt the various strains of the Red Rustproof and 
Fulghum varieties are the most satisfactory. Immediately north of 
the Cotton Belt hardier varieties, such as Winter Turf, Culberson, 
and Lee, are better adapted. 
Results of a date-of-seeding experiment at Athens show that from 
October 10 to 18 is about the optimum date for sowing winter oats in 
northern Georgia. In southern Georgia seeding may be delayed 
until November 1, but, as arule, slightly earlier seeding is safer. The 
results of these experiments on the whole indicate that late seeding 
is one of the factors responsible for the low yield of fall-sown oats in 
the South. 
In a rate-of-seeding experiment with Red Rustproof and Fulghum 
oats at Athens the 6-peck rate for Red Rustproof and the 10-peck 
rate for Fulghum produced the highest average yields. Results at 
Tifton were similar. 
