The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-03-18

SlbSe flJU9 Mf. COker has been
breeding oats from red Appler stock.
The hrst year ne selected 20 plants, OF
which seven proved. worthy in the
ffaassstt=ttc-.-:'c=. sessss ssesssss. Thhe second
year two of the seven were discarded
The third year only two strains were
kept, and last season, the fourth year
from the time the oat breeding began,
Mr.. ColEer planted his main crop Of f.
A, No. "a, the strain that proved the
better OF these two. In variety tests
during the xast three years four OF
Mr.. Coker's pedigree strains OF oats
have led in production, which he com
stders added proof that breeding tells.
Some OF Mr., Coker's most important
experiments have been with a view to
|determinilis the proper quantity OF
cats 70 use for seed n In = bulletin
ne Issued to thousands OF farmers in
this section he says: 81
During the. year 1911 $4,000 acres
Iof oats were planted in the state oil
South Carolina. Most Of these were
seeded In the fall or early winter.
Most of the farmers itl this state used
at least two bushels OF seed to the acre
and many of them gas much az ave
busheIs. We may fairly presume,
therefore, that about 100000 bushels
iof seed oats we're planted in South
EJarclifia IN 1911. ~,
=. t'opr Years ago we begaas s1sass
of experiments to learn ,lf possible.
the rate Of seeding to the acre TINT
would give best results. For three
years we tested rates OF seeding of
three pecks, six pecks and nine pecks
70 the acre, spacing the grains in the
test plats carefully by hand and using
the greatest care to have everything
done with scientific accuracy. For
three years fnssuceession the thinnest
seeding, three pecks, gave the best
results, yielding an average OF i've
bushels to the acre more than the
Six peck seeding and three and half
bushels more than the nine peck seed
ing. a5l ,7', h 2
Last fall we had out q much more
elaborate experiment, seeding ut the
rate OK from one pesck 10 one bushel
to the acre. The results Of this test
coincide closely with the previous
ones, the three peck seeding giving q
yield of nins bushels to the acre more
than the next heaviest yielding plant,
which was seeded at che rate OF two
-pecks to the acre..
Larger Yields With Less Saed, q.
All Mr.. Coker's test plats were
seeded during November, so they give
no Indication of the correct amount OF
seed for summer oats. II the farm
,erH or South Carolina would follow his
advice it would save them about
10000 bushels OF seed oats every fall,
IL they plant as heavily as In 1911 and
would increase their grain yield by at
least 1,500, 900 bushels n year. hEr.
IGoker'e experfme mentsb In oat seeding
lead him to believe that much less seed
is needed on rich than on poor land.
- Asnce 1907 Mr. colier has bred n
pedieree variety, OF corn which, OF. ac-
count az its hardness, 10 practically
prcof against the boring OF weevils.
Incidentally the corn Is high fn pro-
tetn content since the germ and it's
horny endoeperm have been deyeI0peti
at the expense OF the starchy part OF
the grain, which IS more readily bored
by the corn weeyil.
From mis- first ear-tto-a-Pow test Mr..
Coker produced two very fine strains
of Williamson corn, from which his
later pedigree strains are descended.
In variety tests during the pats ave
Years these two strains have either
led or have stood as high as any 9TH
er variety Ia production. Nh. Coier
has found, too. that the Williamson
method Of corn cultivation planting III
deep open burrows ssx feet apart,
starting the plants OF slowly and for-
tiiizing and working rapidly after the
corn gets about knee high Tesuits in.
an average Increased yield OF is or
20 per cent. over the best Of the Old
methods or corn cnlture.
40 get rid or q distrcsaing ten denfey
his pedigree strains OF corn showed to-
denreaaa f1lefr riaId ~ 2 lnzs..A.s.sIs..s !,
mr. Coker rssorfed to aesasaeisnE. 5e
Invariably found that ssfrg two
Sfgafns gaVes higher eield Che 0tekl