St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-28
CORN AND OATS,
Reports of Tests at the indiana
Experimental Station.

Prof. Latta in his last bulletin pre-
faces the results of his experiments
with oats and corn with the following
remarks:
The results of field experiments de-
pend largely on the conditions in
volved. For this reason careful men
ton has been made of soil and season.
1t should be added that the
of planting, cultivating and harvest
ing the crop employed on the college
farm, are those of good farmers. The
aim has been in every case to secure
good average farm conditions. Still it
SHOULD be remembered that, however
well conducted. the field experiments in
one section cannot be directly applied
to another section having a diff
fefent soil or climate. To illustrate,
it does not follow that the rate of
seeding on the college farm will be
the best on very different soil, or
under very diverse climatic conditions,
or with other methods of farming. The
chief value of this bulletin, think, lies
DIN the hints it gives as to methods of
conducting reliable field experiments,
and (2) in the evidence it affords the
great influence of surrounding cOndi-
tons on crop production.
He sums up the results of his work as
follows:
FirSt-In corn culture the important
things are thorough and deep prepare
ton OF the ground and keeping the sur
face clean and mellow, without break
ing the corn roots in dry weather. The
kind of implement and the method of
tillage are of minor consequence, pro-
Vlded the abOve-named conditions are
secured.
Second Barn manure produces a
greater increase i'll yield and ''laStS"
longer than commercial fertilizers. If
used fresh, it should be applied to the
corn crop.
Third-Commercial fertilizers have
given better satisfaction upon wheat
than upon other crops. They have not
thus far proved profitable on the college
farm. question whether the returns
will justify their use on soils of average
fertility.
Fourth-The value of fertilizer de-
ponds largely on the crop to which it is
applied and on the composition and fer
tility of the soil, and can be determined
satisfactorily only by field trial
Fifth-Broadcast and drill seeding of
oats have given practically the same
yields under similar conditions. On
piOiNCil vi lOu1 SIOUIitl
would probably be preferred. The r0-
tary broadcast seeder would not how
ever, secure uniform distribution of
seed in windy weather. The broad
cast seederS that have the drill force
feed are less open to the above objection.
SiXth-Thick seeding of oats has given
the best yields thus far, but thick
stand makes the crop more liable to
lodge.
Seventh-The thicker stands of corn
have given good yields, but the corn is
reduced in size and the labor of gather
ing increased thereby.
Eighth-With all equal stand, Guilt
waited one way only, planting corn in
tWoS or threeS has given better results
than diSpOsing the kernels singly. 1t
seems probable, therefore, that if corn
could be planted in hills of two stalks,
say three and Il half by two and half
feet apart, and in rows each way so as
to permit some cross cultivation, heavy
yields of good quality might be pro-
duced.
MULTIPLICATION of crops is the most
feasible and effective preventive of III
sect ravages. There have been no
serious insect depredations on the col
lege farm since the writer took charge
of it in 1882.
Tenth-A Judcious crop rotation
equalizes the demands on the land, pre-
vents mixing of crops. increases the
yield, provides a variety of feeds for
live stock and is thus means of main
tanning the fertility of the soil