FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 294, 8 June 1912, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

VAGARIES OP OATS. Mr. Geo. J. Mackie, of Waitara, writes:—Re vagaries of Algerian oats in germinating. We have heard at different times of complaints regarding thil matter and have seen the same, but my experience this year is possibly unique, and will perhaps be helpful. In the early 'harvest I stacked some for a neighbor which were threshed next day, and as I wanted to sow some for cow feed I got some seconds, of which I sowed some 'a day or two later for test in a piece of garden ground, ia good condition as regards tilth and moisture, but as only 6 or 8 per cent, germinated in twelve days' time I raked the ground up and found the others rotten. Not satisfied with this, and having another neighbor with a stack alongside me, I got a sample from this stack to test. (I helped to harvest this so knew the condition it was in when stacked). I sowed this sample (No. 2), and out of curiosity sowed a second sample of the first (No. 1), being particular to mark the rows. In ten days No. 1 was up thick, while only a few of No. 2 ever came up; the others rotted. A month later, No. 2 having in the meantime been threshed, I got some seconds for fowl feed, and being ready to sow and not 'having enough of No. 1, I finished off with No. 2, the result being that both germinated alike, and practically every seed grew. The only reason I can give for euch a freak is that Algerian oats, unless they stand an extra long time in the stook, want either longer time in the stack, or sack if threshed to mature to proper condition for germinating.