LI E> R.AR.Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 
 U N 1 V L K. 5 1 1 Y 
 Of ILLINOIS 
 
 
 
 630.7 
 IL6b 
 
 no. 31- TO 
 
 
 Agric . 
 
CIRCULATING 
 
 CHECK FOR UNBOUND 
 0? RCUUTING COPY 
 
 .CIRCULATING 
 
 CHECK FOR UNBOUND 
 CIRCULATING COPY, 
 
 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, 
 
 Agricultural Experiment Station 
 
 URBANA, MARCH, 1896. 
 
 BULLETIN NO. 41. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT, 1888-95. 
 EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1888-95. 
 
 EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT 1888-1895. 
 
 Experiments with wheat conducted at this Station and herein 
 reported are comprised under the following numbers and titles : 
 
 No. 53. Effect of Time and Manner of Harvesting. 
 
 No. 65. Quantity of Seed per Acre. 
 
 No. 66. Time of Sowing. 
 
 No. 69. Effect of Fertilizers in Southern Illinois. 
 
 No. 116. Test of Varieties. 
 
 The present bulletin reports not only the results of experi- 
 ments of 1894-95 but brings together what seem to be the teach- 
 ings of previous experiments at this Station. On the next page- 
 is given a table of temperatures and rainfall from January 1889 to 
 December 1895, inclusive, for the benefit of those who desire to 
 consider the effect of meteorological conditions upon the experi- 
 ments reported. 
 
 Experiment No. jj. Effect of Time and Manner of Harvesting. 
 
 This experiment was conducted for four years. Of each cut- 
 ting some 20 Ibs. of fresh material was dried in the sun ; the same 
 amount was dried in the shade, in imitation of binding and shock- 
 ing; and from an equal amount the heads were removed and dried 
 
 in the shade. 
 
 M7 
 
HULLKTIX NO. 41. 
 
 MKTEORO LOGICAL RKCORDS, 1889-1895. 
 TEMPERATURE, DEGREES, FAHRENHEIT. 
 
 [March, 
 
 1889 
 1890 
 
 1891 
 1892 
 
 1893 
 
 1894 
 1895 
 
 January. 
 
 February. 
 
 March. 
 
 April. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. Min. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 29.28 
 
 33-5 
 30 . 26 
 19.2 
 14.8 
 29.4 
 19-5 
 
 57 
 66 
 
 57 
 57 
 48 
 
 64 
 
 57 
 
 -2 
 
 -5- 
 6 
 
 -15 
 
 * 
 
 -21 
 
 -8 
 
 23.36 
 34.66 
 30-45 
 33 
 25.8 
 24.7 
 17.9 
 
 53 
 68 
 61 
 
 55 
 5i 
 58 
 65 
 
 -7-5 
 
 -1 
 
 -5 
 -20.5 
 
 39 92 
 33-35 
 32.55 
 36.1 
 37-8 
 43-5 
 35-9 
 
 72 
 61 
 
 65 
 69 
 76 
 
 77 
 
 84 
 
 18 
 
 2 
 -1 
 
 * 
 
 * 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 51-9 
 52.32 
 52.78 
 48 6 
 49-3 
 Si-4 
 52-3 
 
 75 
 81 
 81 
 7o-5 
 
 75 
 85 
 
 88 
 
 25 
 29 
 
 22 
 26 
 
 3<> 
 25 
 27 
 
 Whole period . . 
 
 25-13 
 
 66 
 
 *-2I 
 
 27.12 
 
 68 
 
 *-20 . 5 
 
 37-oi 
 
 84 
 
 '-I* 
 
 51.22 
 
 88 
 
 22 
 
 1889 
 1890 
 1891 
 1892 
 
 '893 
 1894 
 1895 
 
 May. 
 
 June. 
 
 July. 
 
 August. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 59-2 
 58.27 
 58.4 
 57-9 
 57-4 
 59-6 
 59-4 
 
 9 1 
 
 8? 
 9i 
 82 
 84 
 89 
 95 
 
 28 
 33 
 30 
 36 
 37 
 32 
 28 
 
 65-5 
 74-56 
 71.9 
 70.6 
 70.5 
 73-4 
 73-3 
 
 88 
 96 
 93 
 94 
 93 
 97 
 98-5 
 
 40 
 47 
 49 
 5i 
 53 
 34 
 42 
 
 72-7 
 73-02 
 
 7O. 12 
 
 73-3 
 76.4 
 
 73-8 
 7i 3 
 
 9-5 
 97-5 
 93 
 96.5 
 98 
 98 
 94 
 
 50 
 45 
 42 
 46 
 
 48 
 47 
 43 
 
 69.2 
 68.74 
 70.21 
 7L5 
 71.1 
 72.3 
 73-2 
 
 89 
 96 
 99 
 94 
 96 
 99 
 97 
 
 29-5 
 44-5 
 40 
 
 47 
 37 
 4i 
 
 48 
 
 Whole period . . 
 
 5-7-^3* 
 
 95 
 
 28 
 
 71-39 
 
 98.5 
 
 34 
 
 72.95 
 
 97-5 
 
 42 
 
 70.89 
 
 99 
 
 29-5 
 
 4~F. 6d 
 
 1889 
 1890 
 1891 
 1892 
 
 1893 
 1894 
 
 i895 
 
 September. October. 
 
 November. 
 
 December. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 Mean 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Max. 
 
 Min. 
 
 61.32 
 60.46 
 69.2 
 
 63-9 
 66.5 
 
 65 
 
 67.7 
 
 87-5 
 89 
 96 
 8? 
 97 
 94 
 94 
 
 32 47.26 
 33 52.07 
 4i 51-3 
 42 S3- 6 
 3i 53-3 
 38 51-9 
 32 45-9 
 
 82 
 76 
 88.5 
 88.5 
 
 84 
 
 84 
 
 75 
 
 25 
 27 
 27 
 19 
 18 
 28 
 
 12 
 
 36.82 
 42.62 
 35-69 
 34-8 
 37-3 
 35-9 
 38.2 
 
 62 
 68 
 
 67 
 64 
 
 75 
 6? 
 73 
 
 4 
 
 21 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 42.71 
 30.91 
 
 37 
 27.7 
 
 30 
 32-9 
 3i-i 
 
 66 
 58 
 60 
 60 
 63 
 59 
 59 
 
 15 
 8 
 ii 
 
 -7 
 -6 
 
 -4 
 
 Whole period . . 
 
 64.86 
 
 97 
 
 31 50.76 88.5 
 
 12 
 
 37-33 
 
 75 
 
 4 
 
 33-19 
 
 66 
 
 -7 
 
 RAINFALL, INCHES. 
 
 
 Jan. 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Mar. 
 
 April 
 
 May. 
 
 June. 
 
 July. 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Year. 
 
 1889 
 
 1.48 
 
 2.08 
 
 1.61 
 
 .61 
 
 5-52 
 
 6.81 
 
 5-8i 
 
 .60 
 
 2.74 
 
 1.42 
 
 4-38 
 
 1.82 
 
 34-88 
 
 1890 
 
 5.26 
 
 1.87 
 
 2.70 
 
 4.11 
 
 3-56 
 
 3.80 
 
 2.83 
 
 i .93 
 
 1.19 
 
 2-35 
 
 1.63 
 
 -05 
 
 31.28 
 
 j8gi 
 
 99 
 
 2.60 
 
 3-55 
 
 3-54 
 
 .89 
 
 2 08 
 
 1.41 
 
 2.86 
 
 .41 
 
 i .29 
 
 5-58 
 
 i-53 
 
 26.73 
 
 1892 
 
 79 
 
 2.64 
 
 2-59 
 
 6.45 
 
 7.86 
 
 5.36 
 
 2 50 
 
 2-45 
 
 93 
 
 93 
 
 4-95 
 
 1.62 
 
 39-05 
 
 1893 
 
 1.05 
 
 4-48 
 
 3-20 
 
 7.68 
 
 4-83 
 
 1-55 
 
 59 
 
 .06 
 
 3.62 
 
 1.14 
 
 2.98 
 
 1.09 
 
 32-37 
 
 1894 
 
 i-95 
 
 i .32 
 
 2.41 
 
 1.86 
 
 3-32 
 
 1.78 
 
 1. 08 
 
 2.06 
 
 4.21 
 
 5i 
 
 2.77 
 
 1.44 
 
 24-72 
 
 1895 
 
 1.36 
 
 52 
 
 .70 
 
 2.42 
 
 2. 2O 
 
 2.24 
 
 3-6i 
 
 1.81 
 
 5-27 
 
 .21 
 
 3-07 
 
 5-71 
 
 29.12 
 
 Ave. . 
 
 i.N* 
 
 2.21 
 
 2-39' 3-Si 
 
 4-02 
 
 3-37 
 
 2-54 
 
 1.68 
 
 2.62 
 
 I. 12 
 
 3.62 
 
 1.89 
 
 31.16 
 
 cc-iinl inCoraplX^. jr-2/ 
 
i8 9 6.J 
 
 EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT, 1894-5. 
 
 149 
 
 TABLE i. COMPARATIVE WEIGHTS OF GRAIN FROM AN KQUAL NUMBKR OF HI.AUS 
 (lOO to 200) CUT AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF MATURITY, AND CURED IN THREE 
 WAYS: FIRST BY COMPLETE SEPARATION OF HEAD FROM STRAW; SECOND, BY 
 CURING IN THE SHADE ATTACHED TO THE STRAW; THIRD, BY DRYING IN THE 
 SUN, ALSO ATTACHED TO THE STRAW. THE HEAVIEST WEIGHT IN EACH SKPA- 
 KATE YEAR is TAKEN AS THE BASIS, AND ALL OTHER WEIGHTS ARE EXPRESSED 
 IN PERCENTAGES. 
 
 Date of cutting. 
 
 Condition of grain, 
 when cut. 
 
 Heads 
 removed. 
 
 Dried in 
 shade. 
 
 Dried in 
 sun. 
 
 1888 
 June IQ. . 
 
 
 IQ 
 
 Vt 
 
 -1C 
 
 "26 .... 
 
 
 cr 
 
 60 
 
 67 
 
 lulv 1 
 
 
 oo 
 
 81 
 
 72 
 
 " IO 
 
 Ripening 
 
 M 
 
 ne 
 
 QC 
 
 - i? '-. 
 
 Hard and dry 
 
 IOO 
 
 97 
 
 9 2 
 
 1889 
 June ii . ... 
 
 Undeveloped and watery . . 
 
 12 
 
 21 
 
 I** 
 
 " 18 
 
 
 IS 
 
 58 
 
 4*1 
 
 25 
 
 In dough 
 
 74 
 
 76 
 
 7O 
 
 Tulv 2 . 
 
 Ripening 
 
 98 
 
 on 
 
 Q4 
 
 " 9 
 
 Mostly ripe 
 
 IOO 
 
 96 
 
 *8 3 
 
 1891 
 June 18 .... 
 
 In milk 
 
 6-} 
 
 6l q 
 
 6s 
 
 " 25 
 
 In dough 
 
 qi. 1 
 
 IOO 
 
 GO. 7 
 
 " 29 
 
 Fully ripe 
 
 95-6 
 
 97-5 
 
 97-8 
 
 1892 
 June 20 . . 
 
 In milk 
 
 57.6 
 
 68.2 
 
 55-4 
 
 Tulv 4- 
 
 In dough 
 
 72.4. 
 
 70.4 
 
 47-8 
 
 " 13 . 
 
 Fully ripe . . . 
 
 QQ.6 
 
 IOO 
 
 87.7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *Injured by mice and birds. 
 
 TABLE 2. AVERAGE COMPARATIVE WEIGHT OF GRAIN FOR FIVE STAGES OF MA- 
 TURITY, AND UNDER THREE METHODS OF TREATMENT. COMPILED FROM TABLE I. 
 
 Condition of grain. 
 
 Heads 
 removed. 
 
 Dried in 
 shade. 
 
 Dried in 
 sun. 
 
 
 1C. C. 
 
 <o 
 
 24 
 
 1 n milk 
 
 51.6 
 
 63 
 
 57.6 
 
 
 82.4 
 
 81 .q 
 
 72. ^ 
 
 
 qe. c 
 
 Q7 
 
 04. s 
 
 Fully ripe .. 
 
 98.8 
 
 07 .6 
 
 *QO. 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 *The one injured by mice and birds not included. 
 
 The increase of dry matter from the earliest stage until maturity 
 is noticeable. The average increase in dry matter from the milk 
 stage to full maturity was over 47 per cent, when the heads were 
 removed, and over 34 per cent, when they were left upon the straw 
 and dried in the shade. The increase in dry matter after the grain 
 was in the dough was over 16 per cent, under the first treatment 
 and nearly as much when it was dried in the usual way, indicating 
 a gradual increase in dry matter up to the period of full maturity. 
 (See Table 2.) 
 
150 iu LLETIN NO. 41. [March, 
 
 One of the questions raised in this experiment relates to the 
 extent of the formation of dry matter in the kernel after cutting. 
 It will be noticed that in every case either in the watery or the 
 milk stage the weights were greater when the heads were dried 
 upon the straw than when they were removed and dried separately. 
 The average difference was 6 per cent, with drying in the sun, and 
 over II per cent, with drying in the shade. After the dough stage 
 the facts are not so evident. At the dough stage and after, if any 
 advantage is had from curing on the straw, it is not shown clearly 
 by the figures, although curing in the shade seems decidedly 
 preferable to curing in the sun. From the fact that the weights of 
 grain when dried in the shade are in nearly every case higher than 
 when dried in the sun, and average decidedly higher, there is some 
 reason to believe that the formation of dry matter may continue 
 after cutting, if the plant be protected from sudden drying in the 
 sun. 
 
 The apparent loss in dry matter in both the second and third 
 columns of 1891, between the dough stage and full ripening, is con- 
 fusing, particularly so because the first column indicates an increase. 
 That there should be in any case a transference from grain back to 
 straw as here indicated would seem impossible. 
 
 Upon the question of transference of material and accumula- 
 tion of dry matter in the grain after cutting, as well as upon the 
 relative capacity of slowly cured and rapidly dried grain for atmos- 
 pheric moisture, more work will be done by the Station before 
 hazarding definite statements. 
 
 Experiment No. 65. Quantity of Seed Per Acre. 
 
 Since 1888 the Station has conducted experiments on different 
 amounts of seed per acre. The attempt has been made to secure 
 a seeding of an exact number of pecks, from 3 to 9, inclusive. It 
 being impossible to sow accurately a definite amount, the drill was 
 set as nearly as possible for the desired seeding and the exact 
 weight of seed sown recorded as in the following table. 
 
 In attempting to determine from these experiments the most 
 favorable amount of seed we are confronted by confusing data. 
 For the six years of the experiment five pecks was the only seed- 
 ing that secured the greatest yield more than once, and of the 
 seven rates of seeding all the others were once successful, except- 
 ing the seven and the nine pecks. A more confusing table could 
 not be constructed. The present season the greatest yield was had 
 
1896.] EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT, 1894-3. 
 
 TABLE 3. INFLUENCE OF VARYING AMOUNTS OF SEED, 1894-1895. 
 
 Plat 
 No. 
 
 Lb. seed per acre. 
 
 Wt. of 
 loo kernels, 
 grams. 
 
 Yield per acre. 
 
 Lb. straw 
 per 100 Ib. 
 grain. 
 
 Lb. 
 
 per bu. 
 
 Straw, Ib. 
 
 Grain, bu. 
 
 I 
 
 62.8 
 
 2.681 
 
 3030 
 
 27-5 
 
 184 
 
 59 
 
 2 
 
 80.5 
 
 2.830 
 
 3370 
 
 26.5 
 
 212 
 
 60 
 
 3 
 
 95-4 
 
 3-429 
 
 3730 
 
 30-5 
 
 2O4 
 
 59 
 
 4 
 
 104.5 
 
 2.863 
 
 3280 
 
 3 
 
 182 
 
 61 
 
 5 
 
 125.8 
 
 2.949 
 
 4430 
 
 27-5 
 
 268 
 
 61 
 
 6 
 
 141.4 
 
 3-003 
 
 3040 
 
 29-3 
 
 173 
 
 61 
 
 7 
 
 142.2 
 
 3-063 
 
 4100 
 
 31.7 216 
 
 61 
 
 8 
 
 56.6 
 
 3-139 
 
 4080 
 
 33-3 204 
 
 61 
 
 TABLE 4. INFLUENCE OF VARYING AMOUNTS OF SEED, 1888-89 TO 1894-95. 
 
 Yield per acre. 
 
 01 
 
 Q. 
 
 3 
 
 1888-89 
 
 1889-90 
 
 i 890-9 i 
 
 1891-92 
 
 1893-94 
 
 1894-95 
 
 Average. 
 
 en 
 
 P 
 
 cr 3 
 
 en 
 
 O 
 
 
 ,o 
 
 en 
 
 O 
 
 en 
 
 
 
 en 
 
 O 
 2*2 
 
 en 
 
 O" ~* 
 
 O 
 **" P 
 ' S" 
 
 
 c :. 
 
 ' 3 
 
 ' S3 
 
 ' B 
 
 p-p 
 
 3 
 
 
 ' 3 
 
 CTp 
 
 ' 3 
 
 CTp 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 AT. 
 
 
 
 2215 
 262O 
 
 2740 
 
 22OO 
 
 24.6 
 
 28.2 
 
 26 3 
 24-5 
 
 4140 
 4400 
 4080 
 4980 
 
 22 
 23.7 
 22.2 
 
 28.3 
 
 
 
 3515 
 4000 
 
 39-2 
 44.7 
 
 4980 
 3O3O 
 3370 
 3730 
 3280 
 
 4430 
 
 3040 
 
 33.3 
 
 27-5 
 26.5 
 
 30.5 
 30 
 27-5 
 29-3 
 
 3488 
 3531 
 3649 
 3770 
 3412 
 
 3665 
 
 29.8 
 30.8 
 
 *28. 4 
 
 31.5 
 t32-i 
 
 31-3 
 
 t34-9 
 
 4560 
 4700 
 4750 
 
 36.2 
 
 38.3 
 
 36.3 
 
 2575 
 3357 
 
 3045 
 
 24.7 
 
 29 
 
 25-9 
 
 3915 
 3545 
 4025 
 4290 
 
 43-7 
 34-2 
 42.2 
 40.5 
 
 4540 
 
 35-4 
 
 2740 
 
 28.3 
 
 5100 
 
 26.8 
 
 2670 
 
 27.8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 36.5 
 
 26.4 
 
 24.6 
 
 26.8 
 
 40.7 
 
 29.2 
 
 *Average too low because it lacked the excellent year of 1893-94. 
 
 f Average too ligh because only of two years, one of which was the excellent year 1893-94. 
 
 from three pecks. In 1890, when the greatest yield followed 8 
 pecks, its nearest competitor was the plat with four pecks, and in 
 1892, when five pecks secured the greatest yield, the next greatest 
 was from 8 pecks. Upon the whole 5 pecks seems to be a kind of 
 center, or mean between extremes, above or below which the 
 gradation in yield is not gradual, and around which the yields show 
 little, if any, tendency to cluster. 
 
 If we appeal to the question of averages recorded in the last 
 column of Table 4 it must be remembered that the third average 
 (28.4) is too low, because it lacked the excellent season of 1893-94. 
 Correspondingly the fifth and seventh averages are too high as 
 they are of but two seasons, one of which was the remarkable one 
 of 1893-94. If reasonable corrections be made, we shall have a 
 column of averages very nearly constant. Moreover, from the 
 distribution of best yields we may infer that it will require a long 
 
152 
 
 BULLETIN NO. 41. 
 
 [March. 
 
 scries of years to establish any one of them in the definite position 
 of the highest average. 
 
 Attempting to determine whether good or bad seasons are 
 influential in this matter we meet only confusion, as will be noticed 
 by the most casual study of the yearly averages and the distribu- 
 tion of best yields. Upon the whole these figures indicate that no 
 single rate of seeding should be looked to as the most favorable 
 but that for amounts between 5 and 7 pecks, inclusive, there is no 
 choice, the habit of stooling being entirely competent to supply a 
 deficiency within this limit. 
 
 Experiment No. 66. Time of Sowing. 
 TABLE 5. RESULTS OF SEEDING AT DIFFERENT DATES, 1894-95. 
 
 flat 
 No. 
 
 Date when drilled. 
 
 Date 
 when 
 ripe. 
 
 Wt. 100 
 kernels, 
 grams. 
 
 Yield per acre. 
 
 Lb. 
 per bu. 
 
 Lb. Straw 
 per zoo Ib. 
 grain. 
 
 Straw, 
 Ib. 
 
 Grain, 
 bu. 
 
 i 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 September 10 
 
 June 23, 
 u 24, 
 
 25, 
 23, 
 24, 
 
 25, 
 ' k 26 
 
 3.217 
 3-188 
 3.089 
 
 3-053 
 3.202 
 
 3-133 
 3.019 
 
 4540 
 4990 
 5350 
 4930 
 54io 
 5600 
 4070 
 
 32.3 
 34-2 
 
 38.8 
 
 36.5 
 37-8 
 38.3 
 37-2 
 
 60 
 60 
 61 
 60 
 60.5 
 61 
 59-5 
 
 234 
 243 
 230 
 
 225, 
 238 
 243; 
 183 
 
 September 20 .... 
 October i 
 
 September 10 
 
 September 20 
 
 October i 
 
 October n 
 
 TABLE 6. RESULTS OF SEEDING AT DIFFERENT DATES, 1888-95. 
 
 Date of sowing. 
 
 1889. 
 
 1890. 
 
 l8gi. 
 
 1892. 
 
 1895. 
 
 Average. 
 
 W 
 
 _- 
 
 H 
 
 
 o" a 
 
 e . 
 ' ? 
 
 Cfl 
 
 $9 
 
 O 
 
 g*S. 
 
 J3 
 
 O 
 
 S*2. 
 
 ' 3 
 
 CA 
 
 p*S 
 
 O 
 
 O* " 
 
 SB. 
 
 a 
 
 CO 
 
 rS 
 
 O 
 
 C" * 
 
 8 . 
 
 " 3 
 
 in 
 
 ?S 
 
 (T -i 
 
 SB. 
 
 3 
 
 Sept 2 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 30-9 
 36. I 
 
 34-5 
 36.4 
 
 34 i 
 
 3495 
 
 3238 
 2861 
 2658 
 2003 
 
 29 
 
 28.4 
 26.7 
 27.2 
 21.7 
 
 
 
 3495 
 3907 
 
 3287 
 3772 
 2922 
 
 30 
 32.8 
 
 32.9 
 
 32.6 
 
 28.2 
 
 Sept. 10-12 
 
 
 
 3750 
 
 3170 
 2450 
 1710 
 
 32.4 
 29.1 
 
 20.8 
 12. 1 
 
 4735 
 5200 
 5475 
 4070 
 
 34-4 
 36 
 38.5 
 
 37-2 
 
 Sept. 21-23 
 Sept 29 Oct. 5 
 
 4570 
 
 4505 
 3905 
 
 38-2 
 40.4 
 36.1 
 
 Oct. 8-15 
 
 Average 
 
 38.2 
 
 23-8 
 
 37-2 
 
 26.6 
 
 36.5 
 
 Seeking light upon the most favorable date for sowing another 
 curious mathematical situation confronts us. Consulting the last 
 column, Table 6, which is one of average yields, we find a slight 
 advantage from sowing September 2ist to 23d, although the sow- 
 ing just before and the one just after are practically equal. Con- 
 sulting now the different years, we find the greatest yields to be 
 curiously distributed, every date up to and including October 5th 
 having at some time produced the highest yield, excepting only 
 that one which in the end shows the highest average. In other- 
 words for three years out of the five the highest yield followed the 
 sowing from September 29th to October 5th, the nearest neigh- 
 boring date in no case being successful. The tendency is clearly 
 in favor of the earlier dates, the final average being in favor of 
 
1 896.] 
 
 EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT, 1894-5. 
 
 153 
 
 a date which in no instance produced the highest yields is sig- 
 nificant. Another coincidence that seems to be significant is that 
 the years in which the later sowing was most successful were the 
 years of highest yields, that is to say the best seasons. There 
 happens to be a wide difference between the yields of these three 
 best seasons, and those of the other two. This difference amounts 
 to over 10 bushels per acre. In the poorest seasons the best yields 
 are had from the earliest sowing. From sowing after October 5th 
 the yield was good in the best seasons although never first, and 
 in only one instance was it second best, though its nearest neigh- 
 bor was successful three years out of five. 
 
 In most cases the heaviest yields of grain accompany the 
 heaviest yields of straw, although in the column of averages it 
 does not appear as a principle. 
 
 Experiment No. 69. Effect of Fertilisers in Southern Illinois. 
 
 For a number of years the Station conducted fertilizer experi- 
 ments with wheat at various points in southern Illinois. 
 
 TABLE 7. INFLUENCE OK SUPERPHOSPHATE, AND OF STABLE MANURE UPON THE 
 YIELDS OK WHEAT IN THE CLAY SOILS OF FLORA AND ODIN, AND ON THE TYPICAL 
 WHEAT LANDS AT BELLEVILLE. 
 
 Fertilizer 
 
 Flora. 
 
 Odin. 
 
 Belleville. 
 
 1890. 
 
 1891. 
 
 1892. 
 
 19-3 
 14-3 
 19-3 
 
 1890. 
 
 1891. 
 
 1892. 
 
 1891. 
 
 1892. 
 
 Stable Manure . . 
 Nothing 
 
 15.7 
 
 12.8 
 
 14.8 
 
 25.47 
 19.71 
 
 17.83 
 
 10.5 
 9.4 
 12 
 
 25.47 
 
 19.64 
 
 19.85 
 
 31.7 
 
 14.8 
 17.7 
 
 40T7 
 
 36.65 
 39.85 
 
 38.5 
 30-3 
 36-3 
 
 Superphosphate . 
 
 Comment upon this table is unnecessary, except to note that 
 in but one case was superphosphate successful above barnyard 
 manure in securing a yield, although both were always beneficial. 
 
 Experiment No. 116. Test of Varieties. 
 
 In the season of 1894-95 seventy-three plats of wheat were 
 sown to different varieties, the variations and yields of which are 
 set forth in the following table. 
 
 Previous reports have noted the fact that some of the varia- 
 tions of yield are due to other factors than varietal differences. 
 As a check upon this, the variety known as Valley was sown upon 
 nine different plats, well distributed over the area sown. It will 
 be noticed upon examination of Table 8 that the yields of this 
 variety varied from 11.7 bushels to 24.1 bushels, an average of 19 
 bushels, which is remarkably close to the average of all the varieties. 
 It is again remarkable that but eight yields were above the highest 
 of the Valley, and but three below the lowest of the same variety, 
 and again that of the seventy-seven yields reported thirty-seven 
 are above the average and 40 below, no one yield being exactly 
 the average. 
 
154 BULLETIN NO. 41. \March, 
 
 TABLE S. CHARACTKR AND YIELD OK DIFFERENT VAKIKTIES ^i WHEAT, 1894-95. 
 
 ta 
 7. 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 4 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 ii 
 
 12 
 13 
 
 M 
 15 
 16 
 
 17 
 18 
 
 J 9 
 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 
 23 
 2 4 
 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 28 
 2 9 
 
 3 
 31 
 32 
 
 33 
 34 
 35 
 36 
 37 
 38 
 ^9 
 40 
 
 4i 
 42 
 
 43 
 44 
 45 
 46 
 47 
 48 
 49 
 50 
 51 
 5 2 
 53 
 54 
 55 
 56 
 57 
 
 Name of Variety. 
 
 '!??. 
 
 g-s 
 
 ffi 
 
 . <T> 
 ?CR 
 
 Bearded 
 or smooth. 
 
 Color 
 of kernel. 
 
 g-g 
 
 ajc 
 
 era 5 > 
 g8 < 
 
 PS* 
 
 crT 
 
 *i 
 
 Yield per acre. 
 
 ^ 
 
 p* P 
 
 cr? 
 f. P. 
 3' 
 
 T3 f 
 
 TCJ =r 
 
 Is '"' 
 
 j-* O p 
 
 cr 3 
 
 Early ripe. 
 
 27 
 2 7 
 27 
 27 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 27 
 27 
 26 
 
 27 
 27 
 28 
 28 
 27 
 26 
 
 27 
 27 
 28 
 28 
 
 28 
 27 
 
 28 
 
 27 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 27 
 27 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 28 
 
 27 
 28 
 28 
 
 23 
 
 28 
 
 23 
 
 29 
 28 
 
 27 
 28 
 
 27 
 27 
 
 30 
 27 
 28 
 29 
 27 
 27 
 28 
 
 32 
 
 34 
 3i 
 30 
 3i 
 29 
 37 
 3i 
 33 
 36 
 30 
 30 
 29 
 
 3i 
 29 
 
 38 
 33 
 33 
 36 
 29 
 34 
 38 
 36 
 26 
 38 
 34 
 36 
 32 
 3i 
 32 
 33 
 29 
 
 24 
 37 
 33 
 32 
 28 
 
 29 
 
 28 
 
 30 
 30 
 27 
 29 
 
 32 
 37 
 2 9 
 
 33 
 29 
 
 30 
 
 29 
 
 25 
 32 
 37 
 35 
 29 
 3i 
 38 
 
 B 
 
 s 
 s 
 
 B 
 B 
 
 B 
 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 
 S 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 S 
 S 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 S 
 S 
 
 s 
 s 
 
 B 
 
 S 
 
 s 
 
 B 
 B 
 
 S 
 
 S 
 
 s 
 
 B 
 
 S 
 
 s 
 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 
 B 
 S 
 S 
 S 
 B 
 S 
 B 
 S 
 B 
 S 
 B 
 S 
 S 
 B 
 S 
 B 
 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 W 
 
 W 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 
 W 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 V 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 
 2.891 
 
 2.767 
 2.741 
 
 3-044 
 3-105 
 3-I56 
 2.990 
 2.900 
 2-742 
 3-334 
 2.662 
 
 3-079 
 2-737 
 2.506 
 3.050 
 
 3-194 
 2.886 
 3-c6o 
 
 2.842 
 2.512 
 3.188 
 
 3-4ii 
 3.096 
 2.899 
 
 2-777 
 2.837 
 2.684 
 
 3-49 1 
 2.719 
 2.508 
 3.024 
 2-540 
 2.699 
 
 2 721 
 2.952 
 2.9OO 
 2-897 
 2.476 
 2.125 
 2.916 
 2.901 
 2.636 
 2.839 
 
 2.907 
 
 3.036 
 3-O22 
 
 2.843 
 2. 7 62 
 
 3-127 
 2.520 
 3.058 
 2.548 
 3-751 
 3-055 
 2.923 
 2.658 
 3-7r4 
 
 58 
 58.5 
 56 
 60 
 56.5 
 56 
 
 57 
 57 
 56.5 
 58.5 
 59 
 58-5 
 60 
 
 57 
 57-5 
 58-5 
 56-5 
 
 57 
 58 
 57-5 
 59 
 59 
 58 
 55 
 58.5 
 58-5 
 58 
 59 
 57-5 
 58-5 
 58 
 55-5 
 55-5 
 55-5 
 58 
 58 
 58 
 55-5 
 52 
 55-5 
 56.5 
 57 
 53-5 
 55-5 
 55-5 
 58.5 
 58-5 
 56.5 
 56-5 
 58 
 58.5 
 55-5 
 55 
 57-5 
 58 
 57 5 
 58.5 
 
 3560 
 2610 
 2670 
 2560 
 2370 
 1940 
 3090 
 2300 
 2230 
 3250 
 3280 
 2440 
 3160 
 2775 
 
 2220 
 222O 
 1605 
 1985 
 3OIO 
 2540 
 2410 
 2l6o 
 2I7O 
 
 1985 
 2800 
 2630 
 1970 
 32OO 
 20 1C) 
 226O 
 209O 
 1330 
 1850 
 2370 
 1830 
 1980 
 3150 
 1770 
 1440 
 1690 
 I2OO 
 
 1375 
 1990 
 2o6o 
 24OO 
 1970 
 1790 
 2635 
 292O 
 2250 
 I7OO 
 2510 
 2990 
 3080 
 2I9O 
 I42O 
 2I4O 
 
 23-3 
 22.5 
 
 2O. 2 
 22.6 
 
 21.8 
 
 16.3 
 
 21 8 
 
 20.3 
 16.8 
 25-1 
 
 22 
 24 
 29-3 
 23-7 
 16.3 
 
 23 
 14.9 
 17.2 
 23.1 
 I 9 .6 
 22.5 
 
 18.6 
 19.1 
 18.9 
 26.6 
 20. i 
 18.5 
 
 22.6 
 
 16.5 
 21 
 I 9 .8 
 
 15-8 
 15-8 
 I9.I 
 
 18.8 
 18.3 
 23.5 
 13-1 
 
 12 
 17.2 
 10 
 
 lit. 7 
 
 21.5 
 17.6 
 18.6 
 18.5 
 18.8 
 24.1 
 25-3 
 18.5 
 M-3 
 
 21-5 
 12.8 
 
 25.3 
 
 18.8 
 12.3 
 22.3 
 
 254 
 193 
 
 221 
 
 188 
 181 
 197 
 235 
 188 
 
 221 
 
 215 
 248 
 169 
 1 80 
 
 194 
 227 
 1 60 
 179 
 I 9 I 
 
 216 
 
 215 
 179 
 
 193 
 
 188 
 174 
 175 
 217 
 177 
 
 235 
 203 
 
 179 
 176 
 140 
 
 195 
 206 
 162 
 180 
 223 
 224 
 200 
 164 
 200 
 195 
 154 
 194 
 214 
 
 177 
 I S3 
 182 
 192 
 202 
 198 
 
 194 
 
 388 
 203 
 
 193 
 191 
 1 60 
 
 Witter 
 
 Saskatchewan 
 
 
 Tuscan Island 
 
 Yuba 
 
 Hybrid Mediterranean . 
 Valley 
 
 Rudy 
 
 
 Curnll's prolific 
 
 
 Theiss 
 
 Valley 
 
 
 Golden cross 
 
 Sibley's new golden 
 Lehigh 
 
 Pool 
 
 Valley 
 
 Fulcaster 
 
 Lebanon 
 
 Tasmanian red 
 
 Royal Australian 
 
 Ohio early ripe 
 
 Bi< T English 
 
 Oregon 
 
 Crate 
 
 Hickman 
 
 Extra early Oakley 
 
 Democrat 
 
 Miami Valley 
 
 German Emperor 
 
 Longberry 
 
 Badger 
 
 Valley . . 
 
 New Michigan amber . 
 Ontario wonder 
 
 
 Yellow gypsy 
 
 Dietz longberry 
 
 Valley 
 
 Early white leader 
 American bronze 
 
 Silver chaff. 
 
 Diehl Mediterranean . . . 
 Wyandot red 
 
 Valley 
 
 Early red Clawson 
 
 Bearded monarch. . . . 
 
 Martin's amber 
 
 Roberts 
 
 Jones' square head 
 Landreth .... 
 
 Valley 
 
 Improved rice 
 
 Kentucky giant 
 
1896.] 
 
 KNPKRIMENTS \YITII \VHEAT, 1894-5. 
 TABLE 8. CONTINUKD. 
 
 155 
 
 p" 
 
 s. 
 
 Name of Variety. 
 
 "=r ^ 
 
 3 -C' 
 n n 
 
 B 
 
 >.. n 
 ? ofq' 
 D- 
 
 Bearded 
 or smooth. 
 
 ^ 
 ST2. 
 
 l 
 
 *? 
 *l 
 
 3 g 3r 
 
 p c . 
 
 3 jf 3 
 
 ^ 2 r^- 
 
 c-T 
 
 ?* 
 n 
 
 ". 
 
 Yield per acre. 
 
 'S 
 
 ^ P 
 
 crS 
 
 S g. 
 
 ~H ~ 
 
 s ~ 
 
 5' 5 5 
 
 59 
 60 
 61 
 62 
 63 
 65 
 66 
 67 
 69 
 70 
 7i 
 72 
 74 
 75 
 76 
 77 
 
 Velvet chaff 
 
 27 
 30 
 28 
 
 27 
 26 
 
 27 
 30 
 28 
 2 9 
 
 2 9 
 2 9 
 
 27 
 29 
 28 
 28 
 29 
 
 28 
 26 
 26 
 30 
 38 
 32 
 32 
 30 
 29 
 38 
 28 
 
 34 
 32 
 32 
 33 
 32 
 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 S 
 S 
 B 
 S 
 S 
 S 
 S 
 .S 
 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 R 
 W 
 R 
 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 
 2.479 
 3-134 
 3-145 
 2-977 
 
 2 825 
 2.831 
 
 2-547 
 2.966 
 2.364 
 
 2-445 
 2-413 
 2-043 
 2.761 
 2.607 
 2.762 
 2.492 
 
 53 
 55-5 
 58 
 58 
 58.5 
 59 
 55 
 57 
 53-5 
 52-5 
 59-5 
 55 
 57-5 
 61.5 
 55-5 
 55-5 
 
 203O 
 IO5O 
 1910 
 2410 
 3130 
 2330 
 2670 
 228O 
 880 
 
 1160 
 1720 
 
 2OOO 
 
 2820 
 
 3510 
 
 2100 
 2250 
 
 19.5 
 
 6.2 
 
 16.5 
 23.2 
 27.8 
 22.5 
 
 20.2 
 
 18 
 
 5-3 
 9-3 
 17-3 
 18.7 
 26.3 
 29.5 
 15-7 
 
 21.2 
 
 i73 
 284 
 193 
 i?3 
 187 
 172 
 
 220 
 211 
 2 7 I 
 207 
 165 
 179 
 179 
 198 
 223 
 177 
 
 Hindostan 
 
 Valley 
 
 Gold coin 
 
 Buckeye 
 
 Rock velvet 
 
 Johnson 
 
 Valley... 
 
 Miller's prolific 
 
 Willits 
 
 Reliable Minnesota 
 
 Mealey 
 
 New monarch 
 
 Oregon swamp 
 
 Beal 
 
 Golden prolific 
 
 
 
 Average .... 
 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
 
 
 223O 
 
 19.2 
 
 
 
 SUMMARY. 
 
 Experiments with wheat conducted at this Station thus far 
 indicate : 
 
 That there is a steady increase in dry matter up to the stage 
 of full maturity and that curing in the shade has a slight advantage 
 over drying in the sun (Table 2). 
 
 That between five and eight pecks of seed an acre there is 
 little or no difference in yield (Table 4). 
 
 That sowings from September loth to October 1st yield about 
 equally with a slight tendency to favor September 2Oth. In the 
 best seasons the later sowings give the highest yields (Table 5). 
 
 That barnyard manure is of great benefit upon the white clay 
 soils of southern Illinois, and in most instances notably better than 
 superphosphate (Table 7). 
 
 That the variations in yield of a single variety on separate but 
 neighboring plats are nearly as great as between different varieties 
 (Table 8). 
 
 That trustworthy determinations of yield are difficult to secure 
 and can be had only after a long series of years, or from duplicate 
 plats upon land whose previous history is known. 
 
 EUGENE DAVENPORT, M. AGR., Agriculturist. 
 \\. }. ERASER, B. S. 
 
156 
 
 BULLETIN NO. 41. 
 
 \March, 
 
 EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1888-95. 
 
 The Experiments here reported are : 
 
 No. 12. Quantity of Seed per Acre. 
 
 No. 14. Time of Sowing. 
 
 No. 15. Depth of Sowing. 
 
 No. 84. Test of Varieties. 
 
 For Meteorological Records, see p. 148. 
 
 Experiment No. 12. Quantity of Seed per Acre. 
 TABLE i. YIELD OF STRAW AND GRAIN WITH WEIGHT OF GRAIN PKK BUSHKI. FROM 
 
 DIFFERENT RATES OF SEEDING OF OATS, 1888-93. 
 
 Seed 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 per acre, 
 bu. 
 
 1888. 
 
 1889. 
 
 1890. 
 
 1891. 
 
 1892. 1893. 
 
 Average. 
 
 i 
 
 Straw per acre, pounds. 
 
 i 
 
 3820 
 
 4 
 
 i-5 
 
 4400 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 4540 
 
 4 
 
 2-5 
 
 4860 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 5220 
 
 4 
 
 3-5 
 
 4400 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 4260 
 
 3 
 
 2820 
 
 I2?5 
 
 1742 
 
 2330 
 
 2764 
 
 1740 
 
 1970 1980 
 
 2190 
 
 2680 
 
 1800 
 
 2 74 8 
 
 1832 
 
 2IIO 
 
 2838 
 
 2460 
 
 2638 
 
 1935 
 
 2630 
 
 2920 
 
 1960 
 
 2790 
 
 2IOO 
 
 2580 
 
 3192 
 
 2000 
 
 3060 
 
 1952 
 
 2080 
 
 2932 
 
 2O2O 
 
 3110 
 
 2377 
 
 2395 
 
 2894 
 
 drain per acre, bushels. 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 I 52.5 
 
 36-3 
 
 25-3 
 
 36.7 
 
 40.5 
 
 62.2 
 
 42.2 
 
 i-5 59-4 
 
 33-1 
 
 21.6 
 
 56.9 
 
 43-5 
 
 52.8 
 
 44-5 
 
 2 61.4 
 
 42.5 
 
 17-5 
 
 74-8 
 
 43-3 
 
 54-i 
 
 48.9 
 
 2.5 63.8 
 
 43-8 
 
 29.1 
 
 72.6 
 
 44.5 
 
 62.8 
 
 52.8 
 
 3 61.9 
 
 47-2 
 
 27-5 
 
 76.6 
 
 44-3 
 
 55-6 
 
 52.2 
 
 3-5 62.5 
 
 52.1 24.7 
 
 79.7 
 
 42.4 
 
 5o 
 
 51-9 
 
 4 60.6 
 
 50.6 21.9 
 
 76.3 
 
 43-2 
 
 55-8 51-4 
 
 per Intstiel. 
 
 I 
 
 
 25. 5 
 
 26 
 
 1 
 28.5 25.5 36 5 
 
 28 4 
 
 i . 5 
 
 
 2 s , 
 
 26.5 
 
 ^I 27 . S "?8 
 
 7 
 
 2Q 6 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 24 
 
 <u * 28 38 25 
 
 30 
 
 2. 5 
 
 
 28 
 
 29 
 
 ^2 28 14 
 
 TO 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 29 
 
 29 
 
 32.5 28 36 
 
 30.9 
 
 J . C 
 
 
 29.5 
 
 28 
 
 32 28.7 37 
 
 it 
 
 4 
 
 
 29.5 
 
 29 
 
 ^2 29.2 'n.ys 
 
 JO. 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
i8g6.J 
 
 EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1895. 
 
 157 
 
 It will be noticed that in but one season \vas the greatest 
 weight of straw accompanied by the highest yield of grain, and 
 that the weight per bushel is largely independent of the yield of 
 grain. Contrary to the results of similar experiments with wheat 
 the highest average 52.8 is opposite a seeding which itself secured 
 the greatest yield for four out of the six seasons, and no lighter 
 seeding than this has as yet given the highest yield. If this means 
 anything, it means that 2 l / 2 bushels an acre is the most favorable 
 seeding, with a tendency favoring more rather than less. 
 
 Experiment No. 14. Time of Sowing. 
 TABLE 2. YiKL'D OF OATS IN GRAIN AND STRAW FROM SOWING AT DIFFERENT DATES. 
 
 a 
 
 P 
 
 K 
 
 o 
 > 
 
 Gfl 
 
 3' 
 cp 
 
 1888. 
 
 1889. 
 
 1890. 
 
 1892. 
 
 1893. 
 
 Average. 
 
 Yield 
 per acre. 
 
 r 
 
 cr 
 
 T3 
 0> 
 
 "-( 
 
 0* 
 
 Yield 
 per acre. 
 
 r 
 
 cr 
 
 1 
 
 cr 
 
 Yield 
 per acre. 
 
 r 
 
 cr 
 
 o 
 rt> 
 H 
 
 cr 
 
 Yield 
 per acre. 
 
 r 
 
 cr 
 
 1 
 cr 
 a 
 
 Yield 
 per acre. 
 
 r 1 
 
 cr 
 
 T3 
 <T> 
 1 
 
 cr 
 
 Yield 
 per acre. 
 
 en 
 
 i 
 
 cr 
 
 O 
 
 3. 
 
 5 
 cr 
 
 CA 
 
 ". 
 t> 
 
 O 
 
 a; 
 
 5 
 
 cr 
 p 
 
 c/; 
 
 3 
 
 j? 
 
 O 
 
 
 5 
 
 V 
 
 Gfl 
 
 i 
 
 5? 
 
 
 i 
 
 e. 
 
 jj 
 
 cr 
 
 0) 
 
 I 
 
 cr 
 
 O 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 cr 
 
 Cfl 
 
 3 
 
 cr 
 
 C 
 
 S. 
 
 5 
 
 cr 
 
 Mar. 
 
 14 
 Mar. 
 22 
 
 Mar. 
 28-31 
 Apr. 
 4-8 
 Apr. 
 11-17 
 Apr. 
 18-21 
 Apr. 
 25-28 
 May 
 
 3-4 
 
 May 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 28.5 
 
 28 
 28.5 
 
 26.5 
 25 
 
 22 
 21 
 
 3600 
 4600 
 5200 
 4OOO 
 4000 
 4100 
 3700 
 
 48.1 
 
 41-5 
 41.3 
 
 36.3 
 33-i 
 
 25 
 9-4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31.8 
 
 3i 
 27 
 27-3 
 26.8 
 26.8 
 
 3140 
 3390 
 
 2890 
 3020 
 2740 
 2540 
 
 44.1 
 45.1 
 36-5 
 30 
 28.1 
 19.6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29.9 
 30.5 
 
 28.8 
 28 
 24.7 
 20.9 
 24.2 
 
 3870 
 
 3124 
 3"3 
 3057 
 3303 
 3186 
 1489 
 
 4=. 
 46. S 
 47 
 42.3 
 35-9 
 30.2 
 
 27-7 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 27-5 
 26.5 
 25 
 15 
 
 19 
 
 1767 
 
 1520 
 1442 
 1332 
 1482 
 
 1325 
 
 46 
 
 42.4 
 47.7 
 4i-7 
 42-4 
 23-9 
 
 34.6 
 
 34-5 
 33-4 
 
 2137 
 
 2077 
 1805 
 
 55.1 
 
 53-2 
 44-2 
 
 5080 
 
 5020 
 5040 
 5020 
 
 66.3 
 
 56.5 
 
 48.8 
 
 49-4 
 
 
 
 
 29.6 
 27 
 
 1652 
 1317 
 
 31-5 
 15-1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The highest yield of grain upon the principle of general 
 average is from the sowing of April 4th to 8th, although this date 
 was only once successful in securing the greatest yield. Because 
 the greatest yield but once followed a later seeding, and in every 
 other instance an earlier, it seems a safe inference that the 
 tendency is decidedly in favor of a date earlier than the general 
 average, rather than later. 
 
 Experiment No. 75. Depth of Sowing. 
 
 For the season 1895 the plan of conducting this experiment 
 was somewhat changed and different methods of seeding adopted, 
 
1 5 8 
 
 BULLETIN NO. 41. 
 
 \Marck, 
 
 TABLE 3. YIELD OF OATS FROM SEEDING AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS FOR six SUC- 
 CESSIVE SEASONS, 1888-93. 
 
 _a 
 
 1888. 
 
 1889. 
 
 1890. 
 
 1891. 
 
 1892. 
 
 1893. 
 
 Average. 
 
 = 
 
 Z 
 
 to 
 
 as 
 
 90 
 
 as 
 
 M 
 
 Jji 
 
 SC 
 
 2 
 
 sa 
 
 2; 
 
 po 
 
 25 
 
 90 
 
 
 o 
 
 n 
 
 o 
 
 n 
 
 
 re 
 
 O 
 
 re 
 
 o 
 
 re 
 
 o 
 
 re 
 
 o 
 
 n 
 
 M 
 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 p 
 
 
 p 
 
 
 p 
 
 
 T3 
 P 
 
 re 
 
 13 
 P 
 
 n 
 
 p 
 
 re 
 
 d 
 
 p 
 
 re 
 
 p 
 
 re 
 
 p 
 
 ri 
 
 -o 
 
 p 
 
 re 
 
 3 
 
 
 v... 
 
 P 
 
 -< 
 
 3 
 
 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 < 
 
 a 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 v^; 
 
 
 
 
 re 
 
 O 
 
 re 
 
 O 
 
 rt 
 
 O 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 re' 
 
 o 
 
 n' 
 
 o 
 
 re" 
 
 3 
 
 re 
 
 pj 
 
 5 
 
 o. 
 
 a 
 
 a. 
 
 re 
 
 p. 
 
 re 
 
 O- 
 
 re 
 
 c- 
 
 8 
 
 &- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 566 
 
 90 
 
 407 
 
 81 
 
 362 
 
 100 
 
 2O5 
 
 69 
 
 179.5 
 
 100 
 
 185.5 
 
 100 
 
 318 
 
 90 
 
 2 
 
 495 
 
 80 
 
 424 
 
 69 
 
 312 
 
 76 
 
 338 
 
 100 
 
 161 
 
 94 
 
 149 
 
 85 
 
 313 
 
 84 
 
 3 
 
 465 
 
 100 
 
 434 
 
 76 
 
 307 
 
 65 
 
 192 
 
 49 
 
 146.5 
 
 85 
 
 121.5 
 
 62 
 
 278 
 
 73 
 
 4 
 
 469 
 
 95 
 
 439 
 
 100 
 
 269 
 
 65 
 
 188 
 
 55 
 
 I7L5 
 
 77 
 
 148 
 
 74 
 
 281 
 
 78 
 
 5 
 
 481 
 
 80 
 
 
 
 181 
 
 2Q 
 
 136 
 
 26 
 
 177. "i 
 
 C.1 
 
 7-1. c 
 
 38 
 
 2IO 
 
 .( 
 
 6 
 
 445 
 
 55 
 
 
 
 75 
 
 12 
 
 
 18 
 
 155.5! 63 
 
 I? 
 
 6 
 
 157 
 
 3i 
 
 all looking towards comparatively shallow depth. This is the more 
 reasonable because the results of previous experiments as shown 
 in Table 3 seem to teach that deep seeding is unfavorable to yield. 
 
 TABLE 4. THE YIELD OF OATS, GRAIN AND STRAW, FOLLOWING DIFFERENT 
 METHODS OF SEEDING, 1895. 
 
 Flat. 
 
 Method of Seeding. 
 
 Straw, 
 Ib. 
 
 Grain, 
 Ib. 
 
 Grain, bu. 
 
 Straw per 
 loo Ib. 
 grain. 
 
 Gram Ib. 
 per bu. 
 
 c 
 
 Broadcast, harrowed once 
 
 1560 
 
 l64O 
 
 51.2 
 
 qc 
 
 ^o 
 
 6 
 
 Drilled 
 
 1380 
 
 I^4O 
 
 41 -Q 
 
 IO^ 
 
 IT 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 ii 
 16 
 
 Broadcast, disked, harrowed once 
 Broadcast, disked, harrowed once 
 Broadcast, disked, harrowed once 
 Broadcast on snow, not covered. 
 Broadcast, disked, harrowed once 
 Drilled 
 
 1750 
 
 2I2O 
 2O3O 
 
 1610 
 
 22OO 
 980 
 
 1290 
 1640 
 1970 
 1350 
 1740 
 520 
 
 40-3 
 5L2 
 61.6 
 42 2 
 
 54-4 
 16.2 
 
 136 
 129 
 103 
 119 
 126 
 188 
 
 29 
 3i 
 33 
 29 5 
 29-5 
 27 
 
 The extremely low yields of plat No. 16 make it impossible 
 to draw comparisons between broadcasting and drilling. The yield 
 of plat No. 10 from sowing on prepared ground without covering 
 is remarkably suggestive. 
 
 Experiment No. 84. Test of Varieties. 
 
 The varieties in Table 5 were raised upon land that had grown 
 corn the previous season. It was plowed in the fall before, harrowed 
 once March 27th, and April 4th all the varieties were sown at the 
 rate of 2^ bu. per acre, excepting that on plats 16 and 18 sowing 
 was deferred until April loth. In every other respect the varieties 
 received the same treatment. 
 
I896.J 
 
 EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1895. 
 
 159 
 
 TABLE 5. CHARACTER AND YIELD OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF OATS, 1895. 
 
 Plat 
 No. 
 
 Name of variety. 
 
 Weight, grams. 
 
 Per cent, 
 kernel 
 in 
 berry. 
 
 Color 
 of 
 berry. 
 
 Yield per acre. 
 
 Lb. 
 straw 
 per loo 
 Ib. grain. 
 
 Lb. 
 per 
 
 bu 
 
 Berry, 
 are. 
 
 kernel, 
 ave. 
 
 flail, 
 
 are. 
 
 Straw, 
 Ib. 
 
 Grain, 
 bu. 
 
 i 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 4 
 
 5 
 7 
 8 
 10 
 ii 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 
 i? 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 28 
 30 
 31 
 32 
 
 34 
 
 35 
 
 Green Mountain . . . 
 Australian 
 
 3-029 
 2.674 
 2.966 
 2.846 
 2.837 
 
 2.122 
 2.678 
 2.279 
 2.803 
 2.928 
 3-103 
 3.170 
 2.838 
 
 2.837 
 2.941 
 2.716 
 2.790 
 2.362 
 2.958 
 2.483 
 2.528 
 2.8II 
 2.887 
 3-210 
 
 2.622 
 
 2.771 
 2.974 
 
 2.560 
 
 2.212 
 
 1.902 
 
 2.182 
 1.982 
 2.076 
 1.603 
 1.909 
 1.694 
 
 2.080 
 2.103 
 2.322 
 
 2.403 
 
 2.039 
 2.091 
 
 2.177 
 1.998 
 
 2. Ill 
 
 1.716 
 
 2.139 
 I 748 
 1. 880 
 2.075 
 
 2.190 
 2.282 
 1.821 
 
 2.052 
 
 2.180 
 1.703 
 
 .817 
 772 
 .784 
 .864 
 .761 
 .519 
 769 
 .585 
 723 
 .825 
 .781 
 .767 
 799 
 .746 
 .764 
 .718 
 .679 
 .646 
 .819 
 
 735 
 .648 
 
 736 
 .697 
 .928 
 .801 
 .719 
 794 
 857 
 
 73 
 71 
 74 
 63 
 73 
 76 
 70 
 74 
 74 
 7i 
 74 
 75 
 72 
 74 
 74 
 73 
 76 
 73 
 7i 
 70 
 75 
 74 
 75 
 7i 
 69 
 
 74 
 73 
 66 
 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 B 
 B 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 R 
 W 
 W 
 Y 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 W 
 B 
 R 
 W 
 W 
 W 
 B 
 
 1630 
 1720 
 1560 
 470 
 1810 
 1500 
 1710 
 1540 
 1130 
 
 I22O 
 770 
 640 
 480 
 IO2O 
 1570 
 2OIO 
 1330 
 227O 
 1170 
 I380 
 
 540 
 1060 
 
 IO2O 
 
 775 
 1570 
 1190 
 1330 
 1960 
 
 42.8 
 33-8 
 28.7 
 
 37-2 
 26.9 
 34-i 
 38.1 
 28.4 
 26.9 
 19.7 
 26.2 
 25 
 24-4 
 55-9 
 42.2 
 37-2 
 50.3 
 16.6 
 28.8 
 
 29-4 
 21.9 
 21.9 
 33-3 
 25-9 
 20.3 
 17.2 
 33-8 
 
 119 
 
 159 
 170 
 
 * 
 
 152 
 174 
 156 
 126 
 124 
 141 
 
 122 
 76 
 60 
 131 
 87 
 149 
 III 
 141 
 221 
 139 
 
 57 
 151 
 146 
 
 73 
 189 
 
 183 
 242 
 181 
 
 33 
 35-5 
 
 28.5 
 * 
 
 30-5 
 31-5 
 31 
 30 
 29-5 
 3o 
 27-5 
 28.5 
 28.5 
 29.5 
 33-5 
 3 2 -5 
 32 
 33-5 
 29-5 
 3 
 28.5 
 
 31-5 
 3i 
 30 
 3" 
 29.5 
 28 
 25-5 
 
 Giant flag 
 
 
 Pringle's progress . . 
 Negro wonder 
 
 Black Russian 
 
 Calearv eray . . 
 
 Pringle's progress . . 
 American banner. . . 
 Great northern. . . . 
 
 Texas red 
 
 Pringle's progress . . 
 Pringle's progress . . 
 Bonanza king 
 Pringle's progress . . 
 White Maine 
 
 Royal Doncaster . . . 
 Nameless beauty . . . 
 White German 
 
 Black prolific 
 
 Pringle's progress . 
 Texas rustproof, . . . 
 Red rust proof 
 
 Early golden prolific 
 Pringle's progress . . 
 Superior Scotch. . . . 
 Mammoth cluster . . 
 
 *Weights lost. 
 
 TABLE 6. YIELD PER ACRE OF VARIETIES TESTED, 1890-95. 
 
 
 I 
 
 890. 
 
 I 
 
 891. 
 
 I 
 
 892. 
 
 I 
 
 894. 
 
 I 
 
 895. 
 
 Variety. 
 
 50 
 g 
 
 7? 
 
 M 
 p 
 
 JO 
 
 
 
 ?r 
 
 W 
 
 ?d 
 P 
 
 9 
 
 7- 
 
 * 
 
 *J 
 
 P 
 
 3 
 7T 
 
 C3 
 a 
 
 V 
 
 P 
 
 FT 
 
 B 
 
 Texas rust proof . ... 
 
 I 
 
 ,, O 
 
 6 
 
 72 2 
 
 
 Af 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 Texas red . 
 
 2 
 
 .10 7 
 
 
 60 8 
 
 
 
 
 68 2 
 
 6 
 
 26 2 
 
 Early Dakota 
 
 
 48 8 
 
 
 
 
 3.8 2 
 
 
 c6 o 
 
 
 
 Pringl"'s progress 
 
 
 j.8 i 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 28 6 
 
 New red rust proof 
 
 e 
 
 1C 
 
 s 
 
 64 6 
 
 I 
 
 ^6 i 
 
 e 
 
 67 I 
 
 
 
 Black Russian 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 70 8 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 62 
 
 a 
 
 
 Taoan . 
 
 7 
 
 .10. i 
 
 3 
 
 75 8 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 60 3 
 
 
 
 New Dakota gray 
 
 8 
 
 3.Q. _1 
 
 I 
 
 8c 
 
 8 
 
 /IT 7 
 
 i 
 
 67 * 
 
 
 
 Black prolific 
 
 q 
 
 35 .q 
 
 Q 
 
 68 7 
 
 6 
 
 46 6 
 
 8 
 
 64.. *, 
 
 3 
 
 2Q.4 
 
 American Banner 
 
 IO 
 
 3.0.6 
 
 
 
 T*> ^ 
 
 A 
 
 48 
 
 6 
 
 64. 4. 
 
 5 
 
 26. q 
 
 Improved American. . . . 
 
 II 
 
 25 . =1 
 
 4 
 
 7C 2 
 
 e 
 
 47 6 
 
 
 62. 1 
 
 
 
 Calgary gray 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 50.4 
 
 2 
 
 67.6 
 
 i 
 
 38-1 
 
 SUMMARY. 
 
 The experiments in oats herein recorded seem to indicate: 
 That within reasonable limits thickness of seeding has little 
 
160 BULLETIN NO. 41. \March, 
 
 influence upon yield, with a preference decided though slight in 
 favor of 2*/2 bushels per acre (Table i). 
 
 That from different thickness of seeding the yield of grain and 
 its weight per bushel are quite independent of the weight of straw 
 (Table I). 
 
 That the most favorable time for sowing is the very last of 
 March, with a tendency favoring an earlier date (Table 2). 
 
 That yields of grain and straw from seedings at different dates 
 fluctuate more nearly together, than do those from different rates 
 of seeding (Tables I and 2). 
 
 That comparatively shallow seeding is necessary (Table 3). 
 
 That maximum yields may be had with medium weights of 
 straw. 
 
 That the low yields of the season of 1895 are due to the 
 remarkably dry season (Tables 5 and 6, and Meteorological Record, 
 
 p. 148). 
 
 EUGENE DAVENPORT, M. AGK., Agriculturist. 
 W. J. FRASER, B. S. 
 
180.] EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS, 1895. l6l 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 BOARD OF TRUSTEES, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 NELSON W. GRAHAM, Carbondale, President. 
 JOHN P. ALTGELD, Springfield, Governor of Illinois. 
 JAMES \V. JUDY, Tallula, President State Board of Agriculture. 
 S \MUEL M. INGLIS, Springfield, Superintendent Public Instruction. 
 RICHARD P. MORGAN, Dwight. ISAAC S. RAYMOND, Sidney. 
 
 DR. JULIA H. SMITH. Chicago. SAMUEL A. BULLARD, Springfield. 
 
 NAPOLEON B. MORRISON, Odin. ALEXANDER McLEAN, Macomb. 
 
 JAMES E. ARMSTRONG. Chicago. MRS. LUCY L. FLOWER, Chicago. 
 
 BOARD OF DIRECTION, EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 THOMAS |. BURRILL, PH.!)., Urbana, Prof, of Botany and Horticulture, President. 
 E. E. CHESTER, Champaign, of State Board of-Agriculture. 
 
 E. A. RIEHL, Alton, of State Horticultural Society. 
 H. B. GURLER, DeKalb, of State Dairymen's Association. 
 
 N. B. MORRISON, Odin, Trustee of the University. 
 
 ISAAC S. RAYMOND, Sidney, Trustee of the University. 
 
 ANDREW S. DRAPER, LL.D.. President of the University. 
 
 STEPHEN A. FORBES, PH.D., Urbana, Professor of Zoology. 
 
 ETGENE DAVENPORT, M.S., Urbana, Professor of Animal Husbandry. 
 
 THE STATION STAFF. 
 
 THOMAS J. BURRILL, PH.D., Horticulturist and Botanist, President Board of 
 
 Direction. 
 
 WILLIAM L. PILLSBURY, A.M., Urbana, Secretary. 
 
 EUGENE DAVENPORT, M.S., Agriculturist. 
 
 CYRIL GEORGE HOPKINS, M.S., Chemist. 
 
 STEPHEN A. FORBES, PH.D., Consulting Entomologist. 
 
 DONALD McINTOSH, V.S., Consulting Veterinarian. 
 
 GEORGE W. McCLUER. M.S., Assistant Horticulturist. 
 
 GEORGE P. CLINTON, M.S., Assistant Botanist. 
 
 WILL A. POWERS, B.S.. Assistant Chemist. 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA