STRUCTURE OF OATS 283 



ona season, found that the Welcome or short, plump grain 

 group (385) contained a higher percentage of kernel than the 

 Seizure group, which has longer and more slender grains. 

 While in the Welcome group the varieties with the highest 

 weight per bushel contained the highest per cent of kernel, the 

 reverse was the case with the Seizure group.^ Saunders believes 

 that the results at Ottawa prove that with a given variety the 

 actual weight of hull per grain is the same without reference to 

 the weight per bushel.^ 



Since the hull (flowering glume and palea) develops long 

 before the kernel, it would seem that with a given variety any 

 unfavorable environment which prevents the grain from filling 

 fully would both decrease the per cent of kernel and the weight 

 per bushel. If, however, a large number of varieties are grown 

 under the same conditions, it is probable that those varieties 

 best suited to the environment would develop their kernels 

 most completely and thus have the highest per cent of kernel. 

 Thus the per cent of kernel might in some instances be the 

 highest in varieties with short, plump grains, and in other 

 instances in those with long, slender ones, depending upon their 

 adaptability to the given region or season. 



382. Weight per Bushel. — The legal weight per bushel in all 

 States of the United States is thirtv'-two pounds, except in Idaho 

 (thirt}'-six), Maine, New Jersey, Virginia (each thirty) and Mar}-- 

 land (twentv-six). In Canada it is thirty-four pounds. Oats 

 may var}^ in weight from twenty-five to fifty pounds per bushel, 

 the lighter weight being found in the more southern climates. 

 Richardson found the average weight per bushel of i66 varieties 

 gathere 1 from various sections of the United States to be thirt}'- 

 seven pounds. In order to increase the weight per bushel and 

 consequently the commercial quality, elevators frequently resort 

 to a process known as clipping. 



1 Ohio Bui. 57, p. loS. 



* Can. Farms Rpt. 1903, p. 8. 



