Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-29
CAN INCREASE DAT YIELD

University.

come serious problem with recent
declining yields.
Illinois Oats for IS Years.
A study of the oat yields of Illinois
by 15-year periods since 1864 shows
average yields OF 29.S, 34.S and 32.4
bushels per acre, respectively, for the
three 15-year periods. The last two
periods each gave more than double
the total production of the first and
practically the same average yield.
Studying the crops since 1874 by five
year periods shows decrease of Co.
100000 bushels in total production the
last period as compared with the aver
age of the three previous periods; and
a decrease of practically four bushels
per acre IN the average yield, 3o.S
bushels. This shows an oat problem
for us to solve, but It is not as serious
as usually considered. The study of
corn resulted in a great Improvement
of that crop, and we may expect just
as great improvement of oats If we
study the crop, investigate and rem
edy the causes of declining yield. The
factors that led up to larger yields or
better quality of grain are the same
for both crops. The factor of soil
must now be considered as to physical
condition and supply Of fertility.
Lack Moisture at Critical Period.
Frank l. Mann of Iroquois county
showed that we have worked out of
our soils the humus and organic mat
fnT- he
necessary moisture supply at their
most critical period of growth, since
oats on soil rich in humus and organic
matter made by far the best yields
and withstood drouth. In different sea-
sons he has gone from one place to
another in the state and found that
oats grew uniformly well up to period
of heat At this time, usually dry, the
drain from the soil by the crop is ex-
tremefy heavy.
Fields well supplied with humus
never stop growing at all and come
through this critical period of a week
or 10 days with no difficulty. But
where humus is deficient the crop is
lighter and poorer in every way. c. A
Rowe of Morgan county and William
Webb of VIII county had observed ex-
actly the same condition, as had Pro-
fessor Broken Of Saskatchewan, Can
ada, on even the new lands of the
Canadian northwest.
The especial reason why oats must
have this moisture during the heated
period is that they are shallow-rooted
plants. while other crops that do fair
ly we'll on the same soil are more
deeply rooted and get moisture from
a greater depth. Any soil that will
produce 40 bushels of corn ought to
produce not less than so bushels of
oats If the humus supply is sufficient
to provide the necessary moisture at
a critical period. Oats take less from
the soil than corn.
Oats can be much improved by the
careful and persistent grading of the
seed. Frank 1. Mann of Iroquois coun-
ty made report of his work in grading
seed oats with the tanning mill. His
test counts to estimate the number of
grains per bushel show: In 1906, be-
fore grading, 100000 kernels; after
grading, $4,000 kernels. After grad |
ing five years and breeding from the
same line of graded seed four years his |
oats, before grading, in 1910, number |
ed only 512, 900 kernels per bushel; af- |
ter grading, large grade, 100000, and |
small grade, 100000. Thus by grading |
and breeding he has reduced the num- |
Der of kernels per bushels one-half-
doubled the average size Of the ker-
nels. AS the result of breeding, the !
lngraded seed is now larger than the |
graded seed of 1906
If the 1902 elevator oats were sown |
without grading, 21a bushels per acre,
B 100000 seeds would go upon an acre.
but the same seeding of Mapn's I'M
proved oats of 1909. graded and the
arge grade sown, would put only l.
300, 900 seeds upon an acre. Yet the
great point of this work is that these
anger and stronger kernels would
greatly increase the yield.
Ungraied seed. tested side by side
With the large graded seed, yielded
,nIy half as much as the latter. c. d.
Smith of Edgar county, Mr.. Webb sid