July i, 1921 
Further Experiments in Field Technic in Plot Tests 
497 
It is not within the scope of this paper to discuss in any detail the 
reasons for border effect; but, from the greater effect in the thickness of 
seeding test at Morris in 1918 under comparatively dry conditions both 
on the first and second rows in the plots as compared with the results 
at University Farm, where favorable moisture conditions prevailed, it 
seems reasonable to assume that increased moisture supply with accom¬ 
panying results probably is one of the prominent factors. 
As to the effect of border rows on the interpretation of results, it has 
been shown that (1) where they are not removed the yields of plots are 
higher than where these rows are eliminated before harvest and (2) the 
rank of a variety or of a rate of seeding in relation to the discard point 
derived for the particular test may change on account of the removal of 
border rows. 
If the only effect of border rows lay in increasing yields beyond what 
would be secured in large fields under like conditions, the expense of 
removal of borders would probably not be warranted. However, when 
the interpretation of the results, as has been brought out in Tables VI 
and VII and in the results for the 1917 variety tests (2), is necessarily 
different in some instances when the yields with the border rows is con¬ 
sidered than when they are removed, the matter warrants very careful 
consideration. It is of interest to note in this connection that the re¬ 
moval of the border rows did not necessarily reduce the probable error 
in the tests. 
When border rows are removed, the question arises as to how many. 
From the 1917 results ( 2 ) it seemed desirable to remove two border rows. 
In the 1918 tests, the effect on the second rows at Morris is very marked 
and in this respect is similar to the results with the varieties at University 
Farm in 1917. At University Farm, the effect on the second rows in the 
variety tests in 1918 is less marked than in the same tests in 1917, but 
the effect is shown to extend definitely to the third rows. In the rate of 
seeding test with oats there was practically no effect on the second rows. 
From the data given, unless border effect can be prevented in some 
other way, it appears advisable as a precaution to insure the most reliable 
results to remove at least two 6-inch border rows from either side of grain 
plots bounded by alleys or roadways. 
LITERATURE CITED 
(1) Army, A. C., and Hayes, H. K. 
1918. experiments in field technic in plot tests. In Jour. Agr. Research, 
v. 15, no. 4, p. 251-262. Literature cited, p. 262. 
(2) -and Steinmetz, F. H. 
1919. .FIELD TECHNIC IN DETERMINING YIELDS OF EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS BY THE 
SQUARE-YARD method. In Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., v. 11, no. 3, p. 
81-106, fig. 7-9. Literature cited, p. 106. 
