FIELD CROPS. 



535 



The average weight per 1,000 kernels and the per cent of kernel for 

 the different gronps of oats sown were as follows : 



Weight of grains and per cent of kernel in oats. 



North Finnish black oats 

 Soiitli l-'innish darlv oats 



131:uk ]>lnme oats 



White oats 



Foreign samples 



Kernel. 



Per cent. 

 68.0 

 68.8 

 69.0 

 72.0 

 72.0 



The author believes that the lighter weight of the Finnish oats is 

 partly accounted for by less careful selection of seed, a larger proportion 

 of inner kernels being found in these samples. The majority of the 

 foreign varieties, unlike the Finnish samples, had been systematically 

 improved at seed control stations, and were true varieties. 



The Southern varieties, and especially the more improved ones among 

 them, were poorer in ash and protein than the Northern varieties. 



The soil used for the trials was fairly uniform, and was a light sandy 

 soil, medium rich in humus. The seed of each variety was sown May 

 20 on one-twentieth acre plats, and the crop was harvested September 

 6 to 24. The average lengths of the growing periods and the yields of 

 the different varieties and groups are given in the following table: 



Length of growing period and yield of oats. 



North Finnish black oat-s 

 South Finnish (lark oats. 



Black plume oats ' 



Soutli i'innish white oats 

 Foreign varieties ^ 



Growing 

 period. 



Days. 

 lil.O 

 125. 4 

 128. 

 123.4 

 126.0 



Air-dried. 



Unthreshed 

 crop. 



Pounds. 

 109.1 

 142.0 

 152.5 

 158.9 

 146.2 



Straw. 



Pounds. 



73.0 



9:;. 3 



109.5 



108.4 



Grain. 



Pounds 

 36.6 

 48.7 

 43.0 

 50.4 

 47.2 



Kiln-dried. 



Grain. 



Pounds. 

 32.7 

 40.4 

 30.0 

 41.9 

 38.8 



' 1 variety not ripe. ^ 9 varieties not ripe. 



The highest yielding variety was Sordavala. The average length of 

 the growing period for oats at Mustiala has been 116 days for the last 

 10 years, while during 1892, owing to the cold season, it was 123 days. 



In comparing the composition of the seed oats with that of the har- 

 vested crop there was found, as a general rule, a lower moisture and pro- 

 tein content and a somewhat higher ash content in the harvested crop. 

 The average results were as follows : 



Composition of seed oats and resulting crop. 



