The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-03-25

whole, however, the Silyermlne,
Kherson, Wisconsin,, No. 4 or Swed-
ish Select have ranked high and are
considered our leading oats.
Clean Seed and Seed Patch
1t is very generally known that
the climatic conditions of this State
are not so favorable to oat produc-
ton as in the regions further north.
Because of this fact 1t is all the
necessary that special attention be
paid to the selection of our seed or
in the course of a few years we find
that our varieties will not be up to
the Standard; they will deteriorate.
1t is a very common expression to-
day to Near that This or that va
riety does not produce as we'll as
they used to some years ago" The
common practice Of taking the seed
oats directly from the oat bin with
out giving any special attention to
it's selection has been very largely
accountable for this deterioration.
1t has at least helped to a very mark
ed degree the less favorable climatic
conditions. While new varieties will
and can be introduced to a very good
advantage, yet the great question
which is confronting many of our
Iowa farmers at this time is "should
the seed that l am using be totally
discarded and other seed for the
planting of my fields be secured. or
should / SOW the seed which l have
been using for my large fields and
secure small amounts for test patch
esq" The latter is no doubt the
more sensible plan.
The yield per acre in Iowa can be
very materially increased by using
seed from the oats which is already
being produced upon u farms II
proper attention will be given to the
tanning and screening in order that
the large plump grains be secured;
then the oats be treated with for
malin for smut; the seed bed be put
in proper condition, and the drill be
more commonly used.
Seed Patch
Every farmer should have a seed
patch from which he could select
his seed for the next years plant
ing. In the introducing of new va
rieties or the improving of seed oats
into different localities it is unwise
to risk your entire crop. Small
fields of one or two acres can be
very proftably devoted to the test
ing of different Varieties and wher
found to be of good yielding quail
ity enough seed may in this way be
secured from the "sed patch" fol
the larger fields the following seas
on. This is the safest plan to adopt
BY the careful selection of oul
seed oats, proper preparation of the
seed bed and the use of the drill, We
can increase our yield very substan'
TALLY. While in many cases a change
in varieties will add very materially
to this. The farmers seed patch
is all important.
Preparation Of Seed Oats for
Planting
1t is by no means an uncommon
thing even in Iowa to find that the
oats used for seed purposes We're
taken directly from the oat bin with
out special care or attention being
given before they we're sown. Ever.
Iowa farmer certainly appreciate
the fact hat small or light and i'm
mature seed can by no means be eX
pected to produce as strong and Wig
orous plants as will the large, plump
grains. This has been so thorough
ly demonstrated, and requiring as !
does so little amount of time t
properly prepare the seed that nj
7 one can be excused for not giyin'
this matter his most careful atten
ton. In considering the proper prep
aration of seed oats for planting, ]
t will be taken up under two headings
5 Tanning and Grading the Seed
First. The benefits derived fror
tanning and grading the seed are in
deed very marked. BY so doing, tn
: light, chaffy grains, which are niue
less valuable for seed purposes, wi,
be removed. Likewise, the wee
seed may be eliminated. This is a
especially important factor in som
localities where weeds such as mus
tard and others common to our oa
crop are so plentiful. Again, nc
only will the weed seeds and ligh
inferior seed oats be removed, br
the large plump oat grains may l
separated from the smaller lighte
i ones. This is all important. I'll
2 last couple of seasons have not bee
4 favorable for cats; resulting in