290 AGRICLXTURE OF MAINE. 



It is seen that the average yield of these pure Hues is con- 

 siderably higher than any of the commercial varieties. Of 

 course the averages are based on only two years and one of 

 these, 1914, was a very good oat year. Yet if we compare the 

 1914 yields of these pure lines with the 1914 yields of the 

 commercial varieties we see that the pure lines are distinctly 

 higher. Out of 23 commercial varieties only one yielded above 

 100 bushels per acre in 1914, while six of these 15 pure lines 

 yielded above that figure. 



Line No. 340 is a particularly good variety. This is a selec- 

 tion from the Irish Victor. It has very stiff straw. The grain 

 is very plump with a very s^iall per cent, of hull. A test taken 

 from the top of a bag showed a weight of 43 lbs. per bushel. 

 Its average production for the two years is 91.4 bushels and for 

 1914, 108.7 bushels. Each of its plots this year gave a yield 

 above 100 bushels. 



Line No. 337 shows the phenomenal yield of 120 busihels in 

 1914. Unfortunately this yield is based on ondy one plot and 

 for that reason we cannot attach very much significance to it. 

 This line did not give a very satisfactory yield in 191 3. It is 

 probably one of those varieties which is very greatly afifected 

 by external conditions and yields very well in a good year but 

 very poorly in a bad one. At least it must be tested further 

 before we can speak with confidence regarding it. 



These pure lines will be tested further next year. We cannot 

 be certain of their behavior until we have a four or five year 

 average to compare with the commercial varieties tested during 

 the same years. It is quite possible that some of these lines will 

 be discarded in future years. However, in offering these new 

 varieties to the farmers of the state we believe we are offering 

 something better than they can get in commercial varieties. 

 At the very least they are strictly pure bred and will come true 

 to type without showing any mixture. They further have the 

 character of ripening very evenly. Not infrequently commer- 

 cial varieties which are quite uniform in type of head and 

 grain show great variation in the time of maturity. If such 

 varieties are cut when the majority of plants are ripe there will 

 be some plants still green. These green kernels spoil the ap- 

 pearance of the grain and likewise lower its germination and 

 its feeding value. If all the plants are allowed to ripen some 



