269 



Professor Liebsclier of Giittingen presented the report of the coojierative 

 fiehl experiments with cereals carried out in different parts of Germany 

 in 1800, under tlie au.spices of the Society. Of 124 experiments made, 

 30 were with wheat, 32 with rye, and 62 with ojits. Severn! of the 

 exi^erimcnt stations ])articipated in tiiese experiments. 



The results, aside from those relating to the tests of varieties, were 

 in l)rief as follows: (1) The Aveight of kernel is a characteristic for the 

 variety, and all ju't'vious observations have failed to show any change 

 in this weight from continued culture. (2) The percentage of chaff or 

 husk in the total weight of the kernel is also a characteristic for the 

 variety, hut no very considerable differences have been noticed between 

 the different varieties tested. (3) The proportion of grain to straw, on 

 the contrary, is relatively little affected by the variety. (4) The protein 

 content of oats is practically independent of the variety. (5) The pro- 

 tein content of oat kernels is influenced in an exceptionally high degree 

 by the kind and condition of the soil; and soil and climate also affect 

 the pro])ortion of grain to straw. The protein content was found to 

 follow the yield, being the largest on a rich soil where the yield was 

 largest. Thus it was found that on an average 75 pounds of grain groAvn 

 on a loam soil contained as much protein as 100 pounds of grain grown 

 on a sandy soil. The proportion of kernels in the total yield Avas also 

 found to be largest in crops grown on heavy soils, which, the author 

 says, is contrary to the general belief. According to this, therefore, 

 light soils not only give smaller total yields of oats, but a larger prox)or- 

 tion of straw to kernels, which also contain relatively less protein. 



