IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 299, 20 March 1914, Page 4

IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

GREEN'S RUAKURA OAT,

The oat referred to in the following article from the pen of the manager of the Ruakura Farm of Instruction has hitherto been known as "The Ruakura Rustresistant Oat," but it has been found that many farmers have taken the term "rust-resistant" to mean "rust-proof," and as the new oat, though highly rust-re-sistant, is not quite rust-prodf, it has heen decided that, in order to prevent misunderstanding, the words "rust-resistant" shall not in future be included in the name. The oat was selected by Mr A. W. Green, the horticulturist and plant-breeder at the Ruakura Farm, and it is therefore considered that his name should be permanently associated with the variety. It has accordingly been decided that the official name shall henceforth be "Green's Ruakura Oat," and it is certain that for many years to come numerous farmers who will grow this oat will remember with gratitude the man to whose keenness and zeal the variety owes its origin. The manager says: — This is now the fifth year in the life of the Green's Ruakura' Oat.

The season has been an exceptionally trying one —in fact, the worst year for rust and blights within the writer's experience—and the fifth year is generally corsidered to be the crisis in the life of any new production of this kind.

Last autumn a large number of one-pound test samples were sent out to farmers in both North and South Islands. Up to date —7th February—nearly- one hundred reports on the results obtained from these samples have come to hand, and, taking all things into consideration, they are eminently satisfactory.

Out of this number only eight report rust, and the majority report a phenomenal yield from the pound of seed. Many of the experimenters are enthusiastic .over the results, and applications for a supply of seed are coming to hand.

At this farm—Ruakura —100 acres have been harvested in fine condition, despite the fact that the high winds and heavy rains during November and December lodged a considerable area very badly. Three fields (about SO acres) in particular were flattened down nearly two months before harvest-time ; yet rust was almost entirely absent, and the straw is perfectly bright. In two fields (late sown) rust was in evidence, but when reaped and stacked the straw and grain were remarkably bright, and in no case was the grain affected. A number of other varieties were tested, including Algerian and Red Rust Proof, but all were rusted so badly as to be entirely unfit for use, and in the majority of cases the ears were mere husks.

Neaily 3,000 bushels of the new oat have already been threshed, and, considering the season, the yield is eminently satisfactory. One crop, grown entirely without manure, and the previous crop (swedes) carted off and consumed in another paddock, yielded an average of just on 80 bushels per acre. One plot in the same field, which has nad no manure for two years, yielded 76 bushels per acre. The land was accurately measured, and the grain was accurately weighed. Any one acquainted with the Ruakura soil will admit that the above yield in a season such as has been experienced on this occasion is extremely gratifying; and it mav be safely accepted that no other oat would have given such results under similar conditions.

At the same time, the writer wishes to impress upon all intending purchasers that the Ruakura oat is not rust-proof, and was never claimed to be so ; and it may be more suitable for the North Island than the South ; but our experience at this farm for five years, which is confirmed by the average report that has come to hand this season, places its value beyond any doubt; and for North Island conditions in particular, the writer believes it to be far ahead of any other oat on the market. It is also excellent for feeding off. purposes ; in fact, it should be sown early and fed off at least twice during the season, taking care that the last feeding off is not clone too late, and never when the land is wet. The oat is now on the market at®the price of £1 per bushel. To the uninitiated this may seem a high price, but the work of selection is costly from beginning to end, and to hand pick the whole of this season's crop will mean an outlay of at least £1,500. Intending purchasers are requested to forward their orders, accompanied by remittance, to the Manager, Ruakura Farm of Instruction, Hamilton East, as soon as possible, in order that an idea of the quantity required for seed may be arrived at. An inspection of both grain and straw now at Ruakura is cordially invited, and, indeed, is very desirable, j