Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1920-12-22
RESULTS OF CAT VARIETY
TESTS
o. A. C. 72 and Swedish Select yarie-
ties in the Lead

During the past year the Farm Bu-
rsau conducted five oat variety DEM
constructions with the idea of determln-
ing which of several standard varle-
ties of oats are best adapted 10 the
various soil and climatic conditions of
this county These demonstrations
We're carried on In five different towns
Of the county, and Were plots repre-
sentative of the prevailing conditions,
! affecting the production OF oats IN
those sections OF the county.
The general plan of the demonstra-
tions was as follows: Six or seven
varieties were used in each demon
stration and one-fourth of an acre of
each variety was sown, care being
taken TO keep each variety separate,
both at planting time and during har-
yeSting. The rate of seeding was
three bushels per acre in all plots,
except one, in which four bushels per
acre were Sown. The amount and
kind of fertilizer used varied some
what in the different demonstrations,
but this did not materially affect the
results, since all varieties in each
demonstration received similar fertih-
cation, as far as possible An attempt
was made to note the extent TO which
the different varieties lodged, but
cause of a severe storm just previous
10 harvesting time, which lodged all
varieties alike
The results of the demonstrations
though not conclusive. are the source
of much information. The large
amount OF rain during the harvesting
time affected the grain yields TO q
considerable extent in some demon
STATIONS Had all demonstrators
been fortunate in having good wealth
er for harvesting, the results may
have been much different
As shown by the following data, the
o. A C. - and Swedish Select var
ieties are IN the lead-with others a
close second, when both straw and
grain are considered. The Gem of
the largest number of bushels per
tionate amount of straw, while the
two leading varieties, though not
superior in grain Yields, produced
large amounts of both straw and
grain. which. when combined gave
them the lead over other varieties
During the few days previous to
harvesting, information was obtained
concerning the stage OF ripeness. The
Gem OF Michigan and Silver Mine
were the first 70 ripen in most plots
and the o. A. c. u and Swedish Sc
lect. the last. vet there was not
enough difference in any of the var
ietiss 70 prevent their being har-
vested at the same time.
The Cluster varieties differed in
some respects from the other vari-
cites They did not lodge as much
as the others IN most cases. vet, when
allowed TO stand after getting ripe.
they broke over a few inches from tn
ground and the heads dropped where
many were cut off when the grain
was harvested. Another noticeable
feature of these varieties was that
they ripened very unevenly. As
shown by the table, the Cluster oats,
especially the Mammoth variety were
lower IN yields than most other vari-
ties. This was due somewhat TO the
number of seeds sown on each plot.
the Cluster cat seeds originally being
larger than most others, which did not
permit of as many plants per acre,
there being the same number of bush
els sown TO an acre as of the other
varieties This peculiar characters
tic of the variety is usually met by
sowing at least bushel more per
acre than Is commonly sown for most
varieties, but for demonstration work
the same amount of each variety
was sown-
It is now planned to conduct more
oat variety tests the coming season
with the idea Of determining the
ability of certain varieties proving
superior this year, to withhold the
lead year after year.