Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-30
FOR BETTER SEED oats
T.. Il. Robertson, Farm Bureau Manager
of clinton County, N. ", Institutes
Campaign Against Dat Smut.

The following article on seed oats for
this region in the oat smut campaign
was prepared by +. e. Robertson of
the farm Bureau says the Malone
Telegram.
oats grown for grain comprise nearly
80 per cent. of the grain crop of North
ern New York. The oat crop is, there.
fore of great economic importance to
the farmers in this section of the state
and there is every indication that it will
always be the leading grain crop.
Few farm crops have received so little
attention, as regards Improvement. as
the oat crop. In fact. oats have acquir-
ed the reputation with many farmers OF
being an unstable grain. In other words
it is commonly said the seed runs out"
and therefore a man must of necessity
every four or five years secure new
seed from an adjoining farm or some
seed firm in order to maintain average
yields
DO oats run out?' Does the seed OF
any variety of oats if grown for series
of years and a particular farm produce
lower and lower yields? No. oat seed
docs not run out" Any deterioration
in the yield of oats is due to poor soil,
weather conditions or to careless farm
! Ing. For proof of the statement that
oats DO not deteriorate the writer can
supply names and addresses of farmers
in jefferson and St. Lawrence counties
who have grown the same variety OF
oats for periods ranging from 20 to 40
years and to-day their oats are equal
If not better than the average in their
neishborhood.
How may yields he maintained? There
are several practical methods.
!. Save the seed from a part of The
field where the crop has matured best.
9 Through a tanning mill eliminate
all of the light weight and small seed.
8 Sow two to two and onehalf bushels
of plump seed per acre.
t. Select seed from choice plants.
3. With formain treat the seed oats
for oat smut.
What type or oats are considered best
for this section of the state? Common
practice seems to indicate that the
branching or open head type is to be
preferred to the side, cluster or name
type. Fewer Of the side or name type
of oats are grown each year. AS re-
CARDS the variety of oats of the branch
ing or open head type best suited there
appears to be no general choice.
Not a sufficient number of variety
tests have been conducted in Northern
, New York to demonstrate the prefer
; ence of one variety over another, but
such names as American Banner, Silver
, Mine, Member 6. Probsteier, Swedish
Select Great Dane, Bonanza King and
, others are commonly associa ted with
, open or branchcd head type of oats.
, There are too many so-called varieties
in every locality. In any one neighbor.
, hood it is not impossible to find five OF
six different varieties (so-called) of oats
being grown. Each man considers hi:
= own better than his neighbours. This
: condition leads to anything but uniform
| ity of methods. a group of farmers il
} any neighhorhood should agree to grow
one variety only. re reach such ar
l agree ont each must be prepared t'
sacrifice individual opinion. Before any
? great advance can be made relative t,
: growing seed oats to sell, the farmers
= of the north country must standardz'
! their crops by growing in one communit.
t one variety only. There is every reason
e for standardization of the oat crop
$ There are few arguments against it. w
4 have good reason to believe that seet
= oats grown and acclmated in Northern
o New York are better than seed importe'
n from some other section.