CEREAL IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCTIONS 171 



the resulting crop and following crops the seed was in- 

 creased from year to year, and finally distributed to experi- 

 ment stations and private farms. The results of these 

 trials were generally good. 



Several varieties of winter emmer are grown in south- 

 ern Europe. Aside from minor characters, these differ 

 from the spring emmers in having a considerably larger, 

 especially broader spike and a larger, stiff er culm. The 

 leaves and chaff of Black Winter emmer are pubescent 

 throughout. It is resistant to drought, and on the other 

 hand stands the bad effects of wet seasons in humid dis- 

 tricts. It is winter hardy, but not so good in that respect 

 as Kharkov wheat (Fig. 59). 



164. Swedish select oat. The Swedish select oat 

 was introduced into the United States by the author in 

 the spring of 1899. It was obtained, along with other 

 cereals, while making an exploration of the cold and semi- 

 arid regions of Russia and western Siberia in 1898-99, 

 in search of cereals adapted to corresponding conditions 

 in this country. This oat apparently originated at 

 Svalof, Sweden, as a pedigree variety developed by selec- 

 tion many years ago, and was afterward grown in Fin- 

 land and in Petrograd province, Russia. Under the 

 severe weather conditions of these localities it became 

 acclimatized for a cold and dry climate. 



The Swedish select is a large-kerneled white oat, with 

 a spreading top or panicle. The distinguishing marks are 

 a blunt, plump kernel, with usually dark, slightly twisted 

 awns and a heavy weight a bushel (see frontispiece and 

 Fig. 29). It is a very prolific variety, which quality, 

 together with the size and weight of the kernel, is no doubt 

 the result of previous selection. The usual weight a 

 bushel is 34 to 36 pounds, while in Montana a weight of 



