Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1911-04-06
PRODUCING
CHAMPIONSHIP
OATS
Methods Employed by Mr.. A. D. Van
sickle, of Marshall Co.. Mimi, il,
Producing the Best Oats at the 1909
National Corn Exposition

American farmers, as rule, are
a conservative people, and it is not Of
ten that one of these attains such
prominence that his name becomes a
household word and is heralded thru
out the length and breadth of the
land. When such an event occurs,
one feature stands forth as a certain
", which is, that in this case honor
Is given where honor is due A man
must have accomplished some great
service for the cause of improved ag-
riculture before our careless city
souslns will pick him out from among
ehe throng; and the applause may be
all the more appreciated because it is
deserved. The Northwest has produc-
ed many good farmers, and some of
them are we'll known; but perhaps no
man came so suddenly into notice as
the grain grower who produced the
grand sweepstakes exhibit Of oats, in
competition open to the world, at the
last National Corn Exposition at Oma-
ha in December, 1909 Mr. A. D. Van
sickle, Of Marshall County, Minnesota.
The famous $1,000 Colorado Oats Tro-
ply won at that time was not the first
OF Mr.. Vansickle's triumphs, for he
had been successful with both oats
and wheat at previous shows; but
this victory, and others gained dur
ing the same year, first attracted pub
lie attention to him. and recently he
has strengthened his reputation by
practically sweeping the boards, in
the small grain classes, at the mid
winter contest of the Minnesota Field
Crop Breeders Association.
The public interest aroused in re-
gard to Mr.. Vansickle's success las
been such that we believe a descrip-
ton of his methods in growing prize
grain would be Of interest and edu-
cational value to our readers: and to
this end we visited Mr. Vansickle at
his home near Warren, and secured
an account of the farming methods
which led up to the prize.
There is nothing mysterious or new
IN his system, other than the actual
application Of good farming methods
He is not content to do things half
way; rather, he uses his physical and
mental energy to the fullest in utiliz-
ing every factor that will aid in secur-
ing definite and desired results The
three great principles that Mr. Van
sickle follows in growing prize grain
are select seed, a perfect seed-bed
and careful harvesting. He believes
and practicess what he breaches
that the tanning mill is one of the
most potent factors in the production
of high-standard grain. He takes the
grain that is intended for seed or for
show and runs it through the tanning
mill, not once Or twice, but over and
over again until every undesirable
kernel and weed seed and bit of chaff
etc, is removed. When the seed is
at last considered clean, it weighs
from 40 to so pounds to the bushel, is
Uniform in size, conformation. color
and lustre. Seed that is rejected from
the tanning mill on this farm is many
times better than the best seed sown
on many good farms, and would be
eagerly used for that purpose. Mr.
Vansickle says that his standard is to
select four bushels of the best seed
grain he can find in his bins, and then
fan three bushels out of that, leaving
one bushel for seed use. This elimi-
mates all double oats and small tip
oats, and retains only the large, firm
uniform body oats from the head of
the grain.
The preparation of the land is a
matter receiving as much care as the
selection of seed. The farm is located
on the Red River Valley Divide, and
is composed of black loan, half way
between the sand and gumbo found in
other sections of the valley. The
land to be seeded is always plowed in
the fall, and doub1e-dragged ahead of
the drill in the spring. A shoe drill
has always been used, but a disc drill
will be tested next year for compari-
son. After drilling in the grain, the
seed-bed is cross-harrowed once or
twice before the grain comes up. Mr.
Vansickle does about twice as much
work on the land as the ordinary
grain grower, and believes that this
extra working is one of the great fac
tors that have contributed towards
his success. He says that the amount
of work performed on the land deter
mines largely the value of the crop.
In harvesting, similar care is taken.
The crop stands until the whole field
io :, 1,pi fory,, uaIIow in color with