THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS NQN CIRCULATING CHECK For J ND CIRC UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, Agricultural Experiment Station. CHAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER, 1892. BULLETIN NO. 23. EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1892. This bulletin reports results of the following experiments with oats conducted in 1892: No. 12. Oats, quantity of seed per acre. No. 13. Oats, compact or loose seed-bed. No. 14. Oats, time of sowing. No. 15. Oats, depth of sowing. No. 84. Oats, testing varieties. No. 128. Oats, effect of time and manner of harvesting upon yield and chemical composition. SUMMARY. The trials were all made on the fertile, dark colored prairie soil of the Station grounds. The season was unfavorable for oats, in marked contrast with that of 1891. The yield per acre and the average weight per bushel were light. The rainfall during most of the period of growth was unusually heavy 19.67 inches for April, May, and June. In 1891 the rainfall for corresponding months was 6.51 inches. The average temperature for these three months was rather low. For July the rain- fall was 2.5 inches and the average temperature 73.3^. RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE. 1878-87.* Av. of 10 years. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. E 5 5' Temper- ature. . B* 5' tg c 3 3*% -I pa 5 3* Temper- ature. M 5' 5' it ^^ >-t ja po 5' 5' Temper- ature. April 3-19 4-45 5-04 52-4 64.6 71- 0.61 5 52 6. Si 52 59.2 655 4.11 3-56 3-8 52-3 58.3 74.6 3-54 0.89 2.08 5 2.8 58.4 72 6.45 7.86 5-36 48.6 57-9 70 6 May June 12.68 12.94 11.47 6.51 19.67 * Statistical Report, Illinois State Board of Agriculture, December, 1887. 122 BULLETIN NO. 23. \_November, The oats were sown broadcast by hand in all trials except in testing the effect of covering at different depths. The yields from plats sown at different rates, from one to four bush- els per acre, varied but little. In like trials for five years the smallest yields have been from seeding at the rate of i bu. ; the next lightest, from sowing 1.5 bu. ; third lightest, from sowing 4 bu.; with slight differences from seeding at rates from 2.5 to 3.5 bu. an acre. The yield of straw, the weight of grain per bushel, and the per- centage of kernel to husk have been lowest from thinnest seeding. These trials indicate that for this soil and climate, when oats are sown broad- cast on fairly prepared soil, they should be sown at the rate of from 2.5 to 3.5 bu. an acre. Trials of the effect of having the seed-bed loose, medium compact, or compact showed results slightly the best from having a medium condi- tion. The yields from plats plowed were less than from plats disked. These results correspond with those in trials in three other years. Trials to determine the effect of sowing at different dates showed that the best results came from the earliest seeding. Trials for four years show the best results in every way from sowing about the last of March, but with no serious loss from seeding up to April i5th. Trials to determine the effect of covering the seed from one to six inches deep showed the best results from the shallowest covering. The average results from trials for five years show a steady decrease in yield from the shallowest to the deepest covering. In 1891 the best results came from covering two inches deep. In tests of 59 varieties, grown on 70 plats, the average yield was 39.8 bu. an acre, with an average weight of 30.25 Ib. a bu. Only three varieties gave yields over 50 bu.; 12, over 45 bu. ; while 14 gave yields of less than 35 bu. an acre. These results are in strong contrast with those in 1891, when 44 varieties gave an average yield of 66.6 bu. with but one falling below 50 bu. an acre, and with an average of 33.5 Ib. a bu. Comparison of varieties from results in 1892 is made the more difficult be- cause of slight injury to several plats, and of serious injury to two plats, by army worms, and by the fact that it was impossible to secure all the grain from some plats because of the falling of the straw. Duplicate plats of each of six varieties were sown. In two cases the differences in yields of these were surprisingly great, illustrating the difficulty in deciding on the value of varieties from the yield in a single year. Pringle's progress takes the first rank for average yield for four years past, but no one variety has had anything like the same rank in all the four years. The vitality of each lot of seed was tested. In most cases it was good, but in five lots less than 85 per cent germinated. In general the yields of the plats where the seed had not a high percentage of vitality was low. This suggests that it is worth while to test the vitality of seed oats. 1892.] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1892. 123 The per cent of hulled kernel to berry of all varieties was 69.57 ; the highest, 77.43 ; the lowest, 62.8. Slightly better results were obtained when the oats were harvested while the straw was still green and the kernels mostly in the dough stage than when the straw was mostly yellow and the kernels hard. When the oats were allowed to mature fully, the results were distinctly less satisfactory. When the sheaves were bound and shocked at once, the yield was somewhat better than when the cut straw was allowed to dry thoroughly before the sheaves were bound. The results- of all the experiments with oats tried at this Station for the last five years suggest that on the fertile soil of central eastern Illi- nois, with simple methods, we may expect in a series of years an aver- age yield an acre of a little over 50 bushels of grain and about one and one- half tons of straw, the oats weighing rather less than more than the standard weight of 32 Ib. a bushel ; that it is not advisable to plow the land in the spring if the crop follows corn, the use of the disk harrow giving better results; that the seed should be sown near the last of March or first of April ; that if sown broadcast, it is better to sow from two and one-half to three and one-half bushels per acre, covering the seed not more than one or two inches deep ; that there is no one variety greatly superior to all others, so that it is not wise to put full credence in the claims often made for new varieties ; that some varieties are, however, distinctly better than some others; that neither color or plumpness of kernels, weight per bushel, nor the form of the head certainly determines value ; but that, generally, varieties with long, slender, comparatively light kernels have the smallest percentage of husk and, probably, the greatest feeding value ; that early maturing varieties are to be preferred to those ripen- ing later ; that it is desirable to harvest the crop before it has fully rip- ened ; and that binding and shocking the sheaves at once is an advantage rather than a disadvantage, if the grain is in fit condition for cutting. Experiment No. 12. Oafs, Quantity of Seed per Acre. Two series of seven plats, each 2x4 rods, were sown broadcast with early Dakota oats April u, 1892, and afterwards seeded with timothy and clover. The oats were sown at the varying rates of I, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 bu. (32 Ib.) an acre, there being two plats sown at each rate. The corn stalks of the preceding year having been removed, the land was plowed about four inches deep three days before the oats were sown. In the table giving results it will be seen that the yield of grain is quite uniform, the minimum being 39.2 bu. an acre, from a plat seeded at the rate of one bushel, and the maximum, 45.6 bu. from a plat seeded at the rate of 2.5 bu. In general the yield of straw increases with the thickness of seeding, as does also the number of stubs on a square foot. The size of berries, per cent of kernel in berries, and weight per bushel are least for the thinnest seeding and increase slightly with the 124 BULLETIN NO. 23. [November, thickness of seeding. The thinnest seeding was three days later in ripening than the thickest. The grass was slightly poorer on the thickest seedings, but not so much affected by the thickness as by the lodging of the oats. The lodging seemed to bear no relation to the thickness of seeding. The table giving the yield of both grain and straw for each of the five years, 1888 to 1892, shows the maximum average yield of grain to be from seeding at the rate of 3.5 bu., with but slight differences between 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 bu. an acre. In three of the five years the largest yield was in favor of 2.5 bu., for the other two, in favor of 3-5 bu - The average yield of straw is quite uniform, the maximum being slightly in favor of 3 bu. The average weight per bushel is least for the thinnest seeding and greatest for the thickest. YIELDS OF OATS FROM DIFFERENT RATES OF SEEDING, 1892. Plat No. Seed per a., bu. Stubs per sq. ft. Wt. 100 berries, grams. Per cent kernel in berries. Pounds per bu. Yield per acre. Straw, Ib. Grain, bu. Av. of straw. Av. of grain. i 8 i i 15 22 77 .66 69.7 69.6 27 24-25 1825 1660 39 2 \ 4 J -9 f 1742 40-5 2 Q' i-5 i-5 21 23 75 79 70.7 70.4 28.5 26.25 1920 2040 45 \ 4i-9 f 1980 43-5 3 10 2 2 27 21 85 .85 70.9 70.6 28 28.25 1815 1850 42 { 44-71 1832 43-3 4 ii 2-5 2-5 36 30 .84 .80 70.6 71.1 28 25 27-75 1930 1940 43-4 I 45 6J" 1935 44-5 5 3 29 .96 72.7 29 5 2205 44.8) 2IOO 44 ^ 12 3 27 .80 70.8 26.75 1995 43-9 f 6 13 3-5 3-5 29 37 .81 .84 70.9 72.6 29-5 28 1930 1975 4i.fi I 433 \ 1952 42.4 7 4 38 .89 72.5 28.75 2545 4i 7 J 2377 43-2 14 4 53 77 . 71-9 29-75 2210 44-7 $ YIELDS OF OATS FROM DIFFERENT RATES OF SEEDING, 1888, '89, '90, '91, '92. pS? Grain per acre, bu. Straw per acre, Ib. Lb. per bu. 88. oo 00 00 CO CO > oo 00 OO CO OO t> oo oo oo "cr* 73 00 oo vQ vQ vQ oo QC vQ VQ vQ 00 VQ vQ c l!{ oo vQ M to CO lO O H 10 vQ r JO i 52.5 36.3 25.3 36.7 4-5 38.3 3820 4600 2820 1275 1742 2851 25-5 26 28.5 25.5 i-5 59-4 33-1 21.6 56.9 43-5 42.9 4400 3800 1740 1970 1980 2778 25 26.5 31 27.5 2 61 .4 42.5 17.5 74-8 43-3 47-9 4540 4000 1800 2748 1832 2984 28 24 31.5 28 2-5 63.8 43-8 29.1 72 6 44-5 50.8 4860 3000 2460 26^8 1935 2979 28 29 32 28 3 61.9 47.2 27.5 76.6 44-3 51-5 5220 4400 I960 2790 2IOO 3294 29 29 32.5 28 3-5 62.5 52.1 24.7 79-7 42.4 52-3 4400 4IOOJ2OOO 3060 1952 3IO2 29-5 28 32 28.7 4 60.6 50.6 21.9 76.3 43-2 50.5 4260 320O 2020 3IIO 2377 2993 29.5 29 32 29.2 Experiment No. Ij. Oats, Compact or Loose Seed-bed. The land, 7 plats 2 by 4 rods, was in corn in 1891. April 12, 1892, the stalks were removed and early Dakota oats sown broadcast at the rate of 2^5 bu. per acre. 1892.] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1892. I2 5 Plat i was seeded, plowed about 4 inches deep, and harrowed once slightly. Plat 2 was seeded, disked, and harrowed. Plat 3 was disked, seeded, harrowed, and rolled. Plat 4 was seeded, plowed 4 inches deep, and harrowed. Plat 5 was disked, seeded, and harrowed. Plat 6 was seeded, disked, harrowed, and rolled. Plat 7 was seeded and harrowed five times. All of the plats were afterward seeded with timothy and clover and again harrowed once lightly. In the table it will be seen that the yields are quite uniform, the maximum being 47.2 bu. from a plat that was seeded and harrowed after disking. There was no benefit derived from rolling after disking and the average yield of the two plats that were plowed was 4.5 bu. less than the average of two plats simply disked and harrowed. In the table giving yields for. four years it will be seen that for three out of the four years the maximum yield of grain was in favor of the medium seed-bed and that the average for the four years was 1.9 bu. greater from such seed-bed than from a compact seed-bed, and 4.5 bu. greater than from a loose seed-bed. NUMBER OF PANICLES AND RELATIVE YIELD OF OATS SOWN IN DIFFERENTLY PREPARED SEED-BEDS, 1892. t Preparation of seed-bed. sz3 cr P n fD 3 3 O. rt> o 5' - C QTQ ' 1 v. " cr IT, ^ r o 3 r cr cr c Per cent ker- nel in berries. fD" " fl 1? U3 t -S3 .89 71 .81 .87 9 95 Yield per acre. s^ p c/p C P. 3 41.9 42.2 43-8 42.7 47-2 44-7 40.8 2 4 6 7 Plowed 4 in. deep, seeded, and harrowed.. Seeded then disked and harrowed ...... 4 9 8 98 85 100 95 80 33 34 32 23 28 28 28 29.25 29.5 25-75 29-5 29-75 29-25 71-47 70.73 70.61 70.49 70-5 1 73-29 2140 2030 2180 1755 3170 2150 1735 Disked, seeded, harrowed, and rolled Seeded, and then plowed four in. deep. . . . Disked seeded and harrowed Seeded, disked, harrowed, and rolled Seeded and harrowed YIELDS OF OATS FROM COMPACT, MEDIUM, AND LOOSE SEED-BEDS, 1888, '89, '90, '92. Seed-bed. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1892. Average. p |g. 3 CTTJ G a s 38 ?*S w o 1 1 S 3 CTT3 C CD 8? .33 p^ s? 8 S. fD p S"3 63 S ?"S .> O y 3 3' CTT5 f 8 $ .$ qs - rt ^ ? 1 O Bg. 3 B "cr^ C " P q 3 s ^l Compact. . . 60 66.3 60.6 4180 5380 4460. 44.4320036.3 47.8290032.8 41.4330030.3 2040 2020 1940 44.2 45-7 42.3 2165 2600 1947 46.2 48.1 43-6 2896 3225 2662 Medium Loose Experiment No. 14. Oats, Time of Sowing. Twelve plats, each 2 by 4 rods, were sown broadcast, two each week, from March 30 to May 4, 1892. The oats, variety Pringle's 126 BULLETIN NO. 23. [ November, progress, were sown as follows: plats i, 5, 8, 10 and 12 at the rate of 31/6 bu. (32 Ib.) an acre; the remaining plats at the rate of 2.5 bu. The land was in corn in 1891. The stalks were removed and the entire tract plowed about 4 inches deep just before the earliest seeding. Each plat was disked and harrowed after seeding. In the table giving results it will be seen that the time of ripening was delayed one day for each week's delay in seeding ; that, in general, the yield of straw and grain decreased with the lateness of seeding; that the weight per bushel and per cent of kernel in the berries uniformly decreased with the lateness of seeding ; and that, in four out of five YIELDS OF OATS FROM SOWINGS AT DIFFERENT TIMES, 1892. R 5 Yield, per 5 a 1J CD CD ^ P Yield per | CD C? Average. ^ o "? 2 acre. c a Pi 5' o acre. c a HT n Yield per gj crx-^ a" c a CO cr? 1 p CO p 13 w cr CD CD B acre. *$ ^ CD CD CD n n >~t OQ ^ o 3 a' R cr -t rt ~ ^ i. p=| ' a' a* t-t l-t- <-t t w- Straw, Grain, crU <-t a '" 8 c P 7 " a w n Ib. bu. . c 1 "S'5. March 30. 22 I 1560 45 27-75 69.57 7 1975 47 28.25 69.73 1767-5 46 28 69.65 April 6. 23 2 1580 43.i 27.5 69.06 8 1460 41.8 27.25 68.31 1520 42.4 27-37 68.68 April 13- 24 3 1505 49-8 26 65-25 9 1380 45-6 27.25 67.32 1442-5 47-7 26.62 66.28 April 21. 25 4 1325 43-5 26.25 68.63 10 1340 40 24-25 62.72 1332.5 4i.7 25-25 65.67 April 27. 26 5 1470 40.3 24-25 61.41 ii M95 44-5 25-5 66.2 1482.5 42.4 24.87 63.8 May 4- 27 6 1320 18.1 17.25 52.02 12 1330 29-7 20.5 61.23 1325 23-9 18.87 56.62 YIELDS OF OATS FROM SOWINGS AT DIFFERENT TIMES, 1888, '89, '90, '92. O w CD" C/3 g 5' QTQ 1888. 1889. 1890. 1892. Average Yield per acre. r cr 1 cr c Yield per acre. r cr 1 cr a Yield per acre. r cr 1 jr Yield per acre. r cr 1 cr c Yield per acre. W 5 & O . 5* k CO ^ P 3 cr O B. _5' cr c C/) n P cr O i. 3' cr c in P % cr O w 5' cr CO ^ p 9 O P_ a' cr c March '14. March 22. March 28-31. April 4-7- .April 11-16. April 18-21. April 25-28. May 4- 28.5 28 28.5 26.5 25 22 21 3600 4600 5200 4000 4000 4100 3700 48.1 41-5 4i.3 36.3 33-1 25 9-4 31-8 3i 27 27-3 26.8 26.8 3MO 3390 2890 3020 2740 2540 44.1 45-1 36.5 30 28.1 19.6 29.9 29.1 26.95 26.3 24.68 20.89 3870 3452.5 3372.5 3370-6 3303.1 3185.6 42.8 44.1 42.8 41.8 35-9 30.2 28 27.37 26.62 25.25 14.87 18.87 1767-5 1520 1442.5 1332.5 1482.5 1325 46 42.4 47-7 41-7 42.4 23.9 5080 5020 5040 5020 66.3 56.5 48.8 49-4 1892.] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1892. 127 cases, where the two plats sown at the same time were sown at different rates, the larger yield was in favor of the thinner seeding. The table giving yields for each of four years shows that in general the earliest seedings yield best. Taking the average for four years the maximum yield of grain is in favor of seeding March 28th to 3ist with but little difference any time between March 2zd and April i6th. The weight per bushel uniformly decreases with the lateness of seeding. Experiment No. 15. Oats, Depth of Sowing-. April 16, 1892, sixty selected kernels were planted in each of twelve rows 10 ft. long. Rows i and 2 were covered one inch deep, and each succeeding two rows one inch deeper, rows n and 12 being covered six inches deep. There was an extra row on either side. The table gives the number of plants started, number of panicles harvested, weight of grain, and weight of 100 kernels for each row. In general there is a decrease from the shallowest to the deepest planting. YIELDS OF OATS FROM SOWINGS AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS, 1892. Depth of sowing, inches. Row No. No. plants started. No. pani- cles har- vested. Wt. grain, grams. Wt 100 kernels, grams. i i 60 182 191.5 1.87 i 2 60 177 226 1-9 2 3 56 141 178 2.17 2 4 59 181 211. 3 i.95 3 5 57 i4V 184 i 2.0t 3 6 57 146 1 66 1.92 4 7 56 159 147.7 i-7 4 8 58 184 173 1.72 5 9 58 165 149 2 i-57 5 10 6p 190 167.2 i 66 6 ii 53 159 129.4 1-7 6 12 56 152 133-6 1.82 YIELDS OF OATS FROM SOWINGS AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS, 1888, '89, '90, '91, 92. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. Average. Depth V 9 2; o 00 CD 25 PC CD 2 o CD 3 P' * 01 of o P P o P o P o p P sowing, inches. l-h *$ <* CD 1 i' Hi "8 CD 5 ' !-h> "S 1 i < CD 3 vd 3 x 3 VJ d *< 3 ^ 3 ^ CD t/3 P P PL CD 5) a s a EL i O. i 566 90 407 8! ^62 IOO 205 69 179.5 100 344 88 2 495 80 424 69 312 76 338 100 161 94 346 84 3 i 465 100 434 76 307 65 192 49 146.5 85 309 75 4 469 95 439 IOO 269 65 1 88 55 171-5 77 307 60 5 481 80 181 29 136 26 177. 5 51 244 46 6 445 55 75 12 9i 18 155 5 63 191 37 128 BULLETIN NO. 23. [November, The foregoing table giving results for each of five years shows the average relative yield to be in favor of covering one inch deep, with a uniform decrease in yield for each succeeding inch. Experiment No. 84. Oats, Test of Varieties. In 1892 a test was made of 59 varieties of oats, or 59 samples of oats each having a different name. Duplicate plats were sown of each of six varieties, and five plats were sown with mixtures of several varieties. In all 70 plats were sown, each two by four rods, or one- twentieth of an acre. These were all in one tract of land nearly square, and apparently as uniform in quality as a tract of such size is likely to be. The land had been in corn in 1891. The stalks were burned about the first of April. Each plat was sowed with four pounds of oats, or at the rate of two and one-half bushels an acre by weight, the sowing being done by hand. The ground was first disked. Except three, all the plats were sown April nth to i3th. All the plats were disked after the sowing., and the whole tract was twice harrowed after being sown with timothy and clover, April i5th, i6th. The three extra plats were sown April i6th. The slight difference in time of sowing made no perceptible difference in yield. The weather was fairly favorable and the soil in moderate condition as to dryness. Excessive rains began soon after, continuing until the middle of June. The vitality of the seed of each variety was tested in the Geneva apparatus. Nine varieties showed perfect germination power; of nine varieties the per cent germinating was less than 90, the lowest, 74; next lowest So. The average yield of the nine with highest per cent was four bushels per acre more than the average of the nine with lowest germinating power. The harvest was unusually late, the oats being cut from July 23rd to August 4th. In 1891 harvest began July 6th and was completed July 24th, with the exception of one variety. DUPLICATE PLATS. Duplicate plats were sown of each of six varieties, the plats being distributed over the tract as well as practicable. The results are given in the table. In three cases the difference in yield was less than two bushels per acre; in three, from four to eight bushels. There were striking differences in average height and weight per bushel. These differences in results from plats of the same varieties, where the attempt was made to have treatment alike, emphasize the need of caution in drawing conclusions from results of variety tests. (See table, p. 129}. YIELD. The average yield of grain for the 70 plats was 39.9 bu. an acre. Not counting three plats, two of which were much injured by the army worm, and the third of a variety unsuited to this climate, the average yield was at the rate of 40.7 bu. an acre. In 1891 fifty-five plats gave 1892.] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1892. 129 YIELD OF DUPLICATE PLATS OF OATS, 1892. Name of variety. Yield p er acre |P S-S ? i P s Q* E 3 * SL Pringle's progress 48 8 23IQ 2 48 3O 2 5 4Q 2 14 72 6^ 5^ Q 2206 8 78 2Q 7S 48 31 2 12 77 . T K Calsarrv srav 46 3 1578 2 06 32 38 34 2 OQ 76 44 ii it ^ 1 CA C 2214 2 27 00 47 37 2 08 77 43 Bicket's Columbia 42 3 1635 6 21 28 S OQ 32 2 32 74 21 41 7 2274 2 21 . c 48 28 2 17 73 OQ 4O.2 IQ42 .4 SI 31 .2S 46 36 2 ;; 74 48 42 2 T46o 08 '27 S 36 28 2 S3 73 28 White bonanza 3Q 2 1871 4Q 00 C 3Q 21 2 S 68 OQ 4O IS 2229 2 73 2C . 2S 4S 24 2 S7 68 24 Welcome 41 6 2643 4 08 34 7 5 48 32 2 3 72 34 37 1 1718 6 ^6 03 75 47 26 2 2Q 67 c an average yield of 66.6 bu. an acre. The average yield of straw in 1892 was at rate of 2025 Ib. an acre, compared with 2840 Ib. in 1891. The largest yield was 56.3 bu. an acre. Three varieties gave yields over 50 bu.; nine, between 45 and 50; seventeen, between 40 and 45; twenty-one, between 35 and 40; six, between 30 and 35; and eight, less than 30 bu. per acre. Slight injury was done to several plats by army worms, but this was not serious .except in the case of two plats which gave the smallest yields. The difference in condition of the plats as to lodging of the straw affected the yield. The average per cent of husked kernel to berry was 70.34 in the seed and 69.57 in the crop. In each case the average was lower than that for the crop of 1891. The feeding value of oats, obviously, largely depends on the percentage of husked kernel to the whole berry. There are striking differences in this respect, but these differences are not constant. Almost without exception, however, varieties with short, plump kernels, show a larger per cent of husk than those with long, slender kernels. Tests of varieties for four years [p. JJ4] have failed to show that any one variety is superior to all others in any marked degree. No variety has had the same rank for the f ouryears. Pringle's progress stands high- est. For three years out of the four it has given the second largest yield, and the average yield for the four years is nearly three bushels larger than that of New Dakota gray, which stands second. Following these are seven varieties, the average yields of which for the four years vary scarcely more than one bushel an acre. There are 12 or 15 varieties, the average yields of which vary less than trials show may be expected where the same variety is treated on different plats. Among these 'are varieties ripening at different times, differing in color, shape of head, etc. Early ripening varieties have obvious advantages over those which ripen late. The variety known as Virginia winter is not 1 3 o BULLETIN NO. 23. [ November, SYNOPSIS OF VARIETIES. Yield, bu. Av. j Pringle's progress 57.3 | / Early Dakota 38.2 )" f White wonder 45.03 1 Second premium 34-9 I White. .J Early Lackawana .28.1 White bonanza 39.6 Welcome 39.5 Badger queen 32.5 Clydesdale 35.7 ,' Canada white 35.8 ! " '} White Victoria 37.9 [ Hopetown 29.5 White Belgian 29.2 j Panicles open -j Prize cluster 40.9 Hargett's white 37.9 Centennial 41.2 Race horse 38.8 Early Archangel 48.7 j Dun .... ^ Long. . . -{ Texas rust proof 42.2 f Simpson 39. } Swedish 39.2 American banner 48 White schonen 41.8 fLong. .. Improved American 47.6 43. Improved white Russian 43.9 White Russian 41.8 Shropshire 49. i White. J 44 ' 4 J White Swede 37.7 ") Egpytian 17.9 Wide awake 44.8 j Prolific side 43 5 ro [Short ..-( Pride of Grant county .. 48.1 ,-35.1 Panicles open j \ Thousand fold _ * 9-8 Surprise 28.7 I Royal Victoria 38.9 i ^ IVictoria 36.3 J 5 Dun.... | Long... { Texas rust proof 40.2 f White..] Short.. ] B^-hite 37.9 > 34 . 5 I, Panicles closed....-; I Black . . -j Long. . . -{ Black prolific 46.6 ( American triumph 32.8 J f Long... < Common mixed 38 /*37.8 ^Seizure 428 \ White., i ( Probsteir 21.6 ) Short .. -j Bicket's Columbia 42 >-32.8 ( Hungarian hybrid 37.8 } f Panicles open, -j ( t Black Highlander 38.3 Black.. K Long. .. < Canadian black 30.8 f Prince Edward's Island 43.1 I Panicles closed i i New red rust proof 56.3 Dun.. ..-;. Long... < Texas red 41.7 ( /Virginia winter.. 25.4 f \H7K-* JT j Giant yellow French f Whlte - \ Lon 8- ' ' 1 Golden giant side 37.4 46.4 ( ( New Dakota gray .................... 41.7 I Black.. -; Long... < Black Tartarian ..................... 42.6 ( I New Dakota gray Black Tartarian Dakota ............................. 39.9 adapted to this climate. The variety called Simpson has been grown on one farm near Clinton, 111., for more than 35 years. It gave about an average yield, was of light weight, with a good percentage of hulled kernel. This is of interest from the fact that central Illinois is not ,8 92 .] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1892. COMPARATIVE YIELD OF VARIETIES OF OATS, 1892. Plat No. Name of variety. New red rust proof i Pringle's progress (Av.) 36 39 & i 38 & 7 j Calgarry gray (Av.) 50.4 58 Shropshire 49.1 64 Early Archangel 48.7 60 i Pride of Grant county. .. 48.1 26 American banner 48 35 Improved American 47.6 42 Black prolific 46.6 56 Mixture 46.6 54 Golden giant side 46.4 2 White wonder 45 33 Wideawake 44.8 61 Scottish chief 44.4 46 Black Russian 44*2 48 Improved white' Russian|43.9 34 Prolific side 43.5 59 Prince Edward's Island. 43.1 68 Seizure 42.8 43 ; _ Black Tartarian 42.6 19 ~ Mixture 42.4 44 & 13 , Bicket's Columbia (Av.) 42 30 White schonen 41.8 52 White Russian 41.8 37 Texas red 41.7 29 New Dakota gray 41.7 22 Centennial 41.2 25 & 70 Texas rust proof ( Av. ). . . 41.2 20 | Prize cluster 40.9 69 Dakota 39.9 6 & 8 White bonanza (Av.) 39.6 45 Mixture 139.5 47 & 9 Welcome (Av.) 39.5 23 Swedish 39.2 28 Japan 39.1 10 Mixture 39 62 Simpson 39 66 Royal Victoria 38.9 40 ' Racehorse 38.81 49 Black Highlander 38.3 41 Mixture 38.2] 15 Early Dakota 138.2' 55 Common mixed 138 16 White Victoria 37.9 21 Hargett's white 37.9 27 Baltic white. . 37.9 53 Giant yellow French 37.4 67 Victoria.... 363 14 Canada white 35-8 12 Clydesdale 35.7 3 Second premium 34.9' 57 ! Hungarian hybrid 34-8 4 White Swede '34.7 32 American triumph |3 2 -S 11 Badger queen 32.5 51 Canadian black 30.8 63 Thousand fold 129. 8 17 Hopetown 29.5 18 White Belgian 29.2 65 Surprise 28.7 5 Early Lackawana r^' 1 ! 50 Virginia winter 125. 4) 31 Probstier 21.6 24 Egyptian 17.9' Comparative yield. thought to have a climate favorable for the production of oats of the best quality. The lessons from these variety tests are negative rather than posi- tive. We may safely distrust the statements by seedsmen that their favorite variety will certainly give phenomenally large crops. Conclu- sions from the results of the trials in 1892 should be drawn with more than usual caution, because of the very different behavior of different varieties as to lodging, and the fact that some injury was done to several plats by army worms. I 3 2 BULLETIN NO. 23. [ November, Per cent standing when cut. . . tnornooooooinoooininmoomminoooomoinoin o m cs o o M c\ Stubs per sq. ft. Tf -tf-O M O >H OO VO N M NNPOrO O M o m NPOPON OO O 00 O ^ M vo , fl G '" co In crop. m o N o <* PO t^OO Tt-O 00 PO t^* ^-oo PO in m In seed. rro>r>-incxD N mt^o o maiw o t^ t>.vO vO vO O O t-^vo t^ t^vO VO t^ t^-vO moo m ON M M mo oo o * O vO O vO t^ t^ C^vO t^O vO t^ In crop. '^-N -<*-oo in ro 60 I In seed. Ripe, July Height, inches. O^oo O inTj-oco moooo r^mo>pomoooo ^ Tt-McxjO MVO mco mooo Pounds per bu. inm in inin in inmmin in Lb. straw per bu. grain. voo MVO mOO~POinPO M Yield pe Straw, Ib. N O 00 00 N N Tf TTVO ^ N O 00 00 M ^"O O 00 * f (N ^- M O> o^ M criO MOO o^popompomm POO -^-O MNomNM>jPOOPO rooo o PON o <^o o M o t^ POOO N TTO PO t^oo o M r^w PO o "i rO <* PO Hi rJ--^-pOPO-^-'<*- Per cent germinated. OOOMOOOOOO OOOOO^OO^O^O^ ? ; il i r. t PQ . llil;|| f j!1 |i uequW^K^SpHffiuwWH Plat No. 1892.] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1892. 133 ominooooo O t^t^-M in o ON o ON mvo oo coo r-^ M o M m 01 ON O MO co co mo TJ- ON N MOO m o o o oo iNN TJ- O CO ON CO ON "3-00 OONOOOOmmMMNOOOCO N O ooooo CO CO CO CO CO N N N CO CO- O oo >H t^ in co t^ t^oo M cooo ^oo vo N r~- o cooo v~> ^ rt-oo O t^oo o m N N M M oo inoo in N N vo MIOOO o N OOOO ooo incovo O cooo o^coooo ^-t^-cocooo >-> ^00 M MOO -^-ino N in<^>-< M t^ONt^vo M t^vovo o ^o t-^N TJ- t^ in M cot^-oo TJ-VO COM. T)- O O O 00 O O OOOO 00 O ON O ON O ON ON l> VOOOOOVOOOVO'^-NN O ^vO ^ O ON O^ O^ ON ON G .1 S a r ^2 : "Mgi a . ^ S rt O W > E .2 - - 1 o o o-o %, t - c3 O CO - fj 5D M ^i-Jo^ ON U -CJ Q a? ^ -= M ^^ . C 3 5 c/)P Ucn c/ W od W '34 BULLETIN NO. 23. [November, The seed of the mixtures #, , c, ^, c was composed of equal parts of the following varieties: mixture tf, Pringle's progress and early Dakota; b, white bonanza, white Swede, early Lackawanna and second premium; c, black Russian and new Dakota gray; d, new Dakota gray and improved American; e^ white Russian and golden giant side. [See also table on p. YIELD OF THIRTY VARIETIES OF OATS TESTED FOUR YEARS. Grair i per acre, bi i. Name of Variety. li S8 9 . if 5go. IJ 5 9 i. ii $9*. > < (D 5^ B3 3 W CO p P a 7T td c 5? !C W c * P p ?r ta 09 OQ CD Pringle's progress 2O 40 3 48 I 2 yq 2 ei o S4 6 New Dakota gray 17 41 . 3 7 3Q 4 I 8s 1 1 417 si 8 Japan 47 c 6 4O 3 7S 8 17 3Q I New red rust-proof 23 36 q 4S 2 I 64 6 I s6 q j u . / Early Dakota .... 2 Si 3 2 48 8 23 63 7 18 38 2 j u - / so ^ Texas rust-proof 3 30 I cc q 8 72 2 13 41 2 4Q 8 Improved American 3 SO. 3 2q 2S S c 75 2 47 6 40 5 American Banner 7 46.3 2S 30 6 26 77 4 3 48 40 5 Black Russian 14 42 S 40 6 IO 7o 8 8 44 2 Giant yellow French i 53.8 17 34-4 15 69.2 21 37-4 48 7 White bonanza 6 46 3 IO 37 S 13 7O 3 1C 3q 6 48 4 Prize cluster II 42 8 II 37 2 12 7O. S 14 40 q 47 8 Welcome 12 42 6 8 38 17 68 4 16 3q s 47 I \Vhite Russian IO 42 4 28 26 6 76 4 IO 41 8 47 Black prolific 24 36 q i^ 3 c q 16 68 7 46 6 47 Clydesdale 8 44 I 22 33 8 7" 73 I 1 22 3S 7 46 7 Common mixed e 47 2 24 31 Q 18 67 2 iq 38 46 I Badger queen T8 40 6 q 37 8 ii 70 6 24 32 ^ 4S 4 White wonder T6 42.1 16 35 6 26 58 7 6 4S 4S 3 Wide awake 47 8 26 28 6 27 s8 3 44 8 43 q Hopetown 1C A'Z I 12 3 S q 18 67 7 1 26 2q S 43 8 Centennial 22 36 Q 23 33 4 24 62 3 12 41 2 43 4 Hargett' s white 21 37 2 18 34 4 25 61 i 2O 37 9 42 6 American triumph White Belgian . 25 28 35-6 31 Q 27 21 2 7 .8 33 8 M Q 69.7 7O Q 23 27 32.8 2Q 2 41-5 41 4 Black Tartarian Probstier ... 29 I 9 30.6 40 20 1C 33-8 3S 6 28 2O 58.3 6s 9 2q 42.6 21 6 41-3 40 s Egyptian . 15 42 S 14 35 q 22 64.1 3O 17 9 4O I Canadian black 26 33.8 ig M.4 2q S5 .7 2 5 30 8 38.7 Virginia winter 27 32 2 30 2O 3O ICQ 28 2S 4 23 4 Experiment 128. Time and Manner of Harvesting. For each of the years 1891 and 1892 trials have been made to determine the effect of time and manner of harvesting oats. In the table is given for each year the average results from six plats harvested early, six when medium ripe, six when fully ripe, and of six plats which were bound and shocked soon after cutting, six cut and allowed to dry thoroughly in the swath before being bound, and of six where the heads were cut off, leaving most of the stalk standing. There are no very striking differences shown, except in the case of the plats cut late 1892.] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1892. '35 in 1892. This result was in part due to the fact that some of these plats were not so favorably situated as some of the others in the experi- ment. In each year the best results were obtained where the sheaves were bound and shocked soon after cuttting. The explanation is not readily given, but the facts seem to show that this ordinary practice is a good one. Striking differences in the yield in the two years are shown, and equally striking differences in the weight per bushel. The variety was not the same. In 1891 welcome oats were used, in 1892 Pringle's progress. *YIELD OF OATS, FORTY-FOUR VARIETIES TESTED THREE YEARS. Variety. Pringle's progress Texas rust proof New Dakota gray New red rust proof Black Russian Japan American banner Texas red Black prolific Early Dakota Improved white Russian Prize cluster Improved American Second premium Golden giant side White bonanza Welcome White Russian Clydesdale White Victoria Prince Edward's Island. Giant yellow French. . . . Badger queen , White schonen Baltic white Black Highlander White wonder Centennial White Swede Common mixed Canada white Prolific side Swedish Black Tartarian , White Belgian Hargett's white , Hopetown Wide awake American triumph Early Lackawana Probstier Canadian black Egyptian , Virginia winter 1890. 448. i 55- 939- 545 7,40. 840. 28J 3 o 249. 1891. 348. 31 26. 3225 641 2233 1237 1038 3026 33 H.37 253i 1835 2i 33 26 3i 1436 i835 2730 2033 2033 1934 1635 2828 29 i 9 4 i 6 6 7 9 8 5 .2 5 .2 .6 .8 9 4 .8 .0 3 3 6 4 , i -9 -4 -3 9 .8 .8 4 9 .6 27.8 1934 16 35 33 20 379 10 72.2 185 28 64.6 13 70.8 575-8 773-4 3460.8 1968.7 3163-7 280.3 15 70.5 675.2 11 72 2168 16 70.3 2068.4 476. . 873-1 2466.6 2466.2 i8|6 9 .2 1470.6 2367.2 2367. 26 65.5 3558.7 32 62.3 972.3 2367.2 3063.0 3756. 2765 3658.3 12 70. 3361. 226 7 . 1892. 17 69.7 2566.2 2765 3855.7 29 64 . I 39 15-9 251-3 16 41.2 I54I-7 1 56.3 944.2 21 39-i 348 46.6 38.2 23 1 8 25 26 io 43-9 40.9 47-6 2934-9 46.4 39-6 39-5 41.81 35-7 37-9 43- 37-4 32-5 14 2537-9 2238, 745 1641.2 3034-7 2 4 27 43-5 2039-2 42.6 29.2 37-9 3429- 844-8] 3i 32.8 36 28. ij 3821.6] 3330.8! 39 17-9; 37125-4 59-5 564 55-4 55 3 5i-9 5i-7 50.7 50.7 504 50.2 50-2 49 5 49-4 49 3 49 2 491 48.6 48-3 47-5 47-i 47-i 47 47 47 468 46 8 46 4 46 46 457 45-4 45 2 45 n 449 44-6 44 5 44 4 43-6 43 4 42.4 40 7 4 3 39-3 20.4 * This table goes with table on p. 134. I3 6 BULLETIN NO. 23. \No-vember, 1892. VARIETIES OF OATS CLASSIFIED AS TO YIELD, WEIGHT, PER CENT OF KERNEL, 1892 Classification. a o J-t> "2- sT Yield per acre. r cr CO ?3 OQ * 5 0* a - ' cr r cr 1 cr p No. stubs one sq. ft. n> I 5' Wt.of 100 berries, grams. Per cent of kernel in berries. O 5" cr a Cfl 9 ? en i r* p o 3 "? 3 8 p, C 3 tJ 70.09 70.05 68.13 68.6 70.41 69-3 69.49 72.7 70.1 67.5 69.4 69.7 68.7 72.6 71.1 67.7 72.8 66.98 Maturing early *? 18 33 37 53 12 5 58 12 25 45 54 16 39 3i 3i 39 40-15 40.2 38.75 36.8 42.5 39-25 41.8 41.2 39-36 42.05 38.2 40.7 38.7 43-6 41.7 37-4 42.92 37-35 2131 1901 2039 2141 1921 2072 1909 1793 2028 2007 2152 1954 2065 1887 1999 2057 1976 2063 1.69 1.56 1-73 1.91 1-43 1.72 1-43 1.49 1.69 1.49 1.79 1.58 1.74 1.36 1-57 1.77 i.45 1.82 32.65 29.91 27.1 32.42 28.3 31 .01 27-33 29-55 3i 26.58 33-5 28.44 30.78 29.8 29.8 30.7 30.7 29.8 20 29 29 27 30 28 29 32 29 27 29 29 28 33 29 28 3i 27 4 6 44 45 46 44 46 45 44 45 4 46 45 46 44 45 46 45 46 2.5 2.42 2.54 2-54 2.42 2.49 2.39 2.59 2-47 2.51 2.56 2-43 2-59 2. II 2.47 2.48 2.36 2.57 2.31 2.28 2.06 2-33 2.14 2.27 2.06 2.29 2.26 2.13 2-38 2.15 2.27 2.13 2.2 2.28 2.23 2.24 69.8 70.05 71.14 68. 4 72.1 69-5 72.2 74-7 70.2 71.05 68.9 7 r 76.1 71.2 73-1 66.9 72.2 68.8 Maturing medium Maturing late Berries short plump Berries long slender Berries, white Berries black Berries dun-colored . Panicles open .... Panicles, closed Wt. per bu., 32 Ib. or more Wt. per bu. , less than 32 Ib Wt. of seed per 100 berries, 2.25 grams or more Wt. of seed per 100 berries, less than 2.25 grams Kernel in seed, 70% or more Kernel in seed, less than 70$ Kernel in crop, 70$ or more Kernel in crop, less than 70$ .... EFFECT OF TIME AND MANNER OF HARVESTING OATS AT DATES AND UNDER CONDITIONS GIVEN. Date. Stage of Ripeness. Yield per acre. 4 cr cr ~ CD M n o 2.o P Per cent kernel in berries. Lb. Straw. Bu. Grain. 1891. July 6. " ii. " 17. Stems green, ^ leaves green, kernels mostly in milk 2887 2619 2179 3180 3179 1307 64-4 63-9 59-4 63.1 56.5 65.4 34 34-7 34-5 54 34-7 . 34-5 2.31 2.43 2.46 2.46 2.38 2.39 69.8 71-3 71.2 70.8 71.7 69.8 Kernels mostly in dough, some hard . Fully ripe Bound and shocked in ordinary man- Loose till dry, then bound and shocked Heads removed 1892. July 16. " 22. " 30- Stems green, ^ leaves green, kernels mostly in dough, some in milk Oats mostly hard, some in dough .... Fully ripe 1656 1740 1284 1892 1770 1020 45-1 45-9 33 45-5 42.8 35-6 26.25 25-7 25-4 26.5 25-9 25-9 2.31 2.22 2.25 2.27 2.27 2 . 22 67.58 66.7 66 67.6 66 66.6 Bound and shocked in ordinary man- ner ... Loose till dry, then bound and shocked Heads removed G. E. MORROW, A.M., Agriculturist. F. D. GARDNER, B.S., Assistant Agriculturist. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA