Composition of specimens exhibiting extreme characteristics. 



From the preceding figures nothing can be deduced which shows any 

 such difference as we might expect between the largest and smallest 

 oats, between the cleanest and most chaffy, or between those having the 

 highest and lowest proportion of kernel in the grain. The weight per 

 bushel of the specimen having the lowest percentage of albuminoids is 

 extraordinarily high, while that containing the highest percentage is 

 also above the average. Differences, too, between the weights per bushel 

 of the extreme specimens are in no wis 3 connected with their chemical 

 composition. The largest and one of the finest and heaviest oats from 

 Oregon had i. early the maximum of husk, and, while the lowest propor- 

 tion of husk corresponded, of course, with a high weight per bushel, the 

 largest proportion of husks was coincident with a weight per bushel 

 above the average. 



An immense number of conditions seem, therefore, to affect the char- 

 acteristics of this grain, and while in many ways, at first glance, it seems 

 to be less changeable than one would expect, on examination it seems 

 to be quite largely influenced by all the circumstances of its environ- 

 ment, and in a more irregular way than wheat. 



Throughout all the averages it will be seen that oats are much drier 

 than other grains, owing largely to their small size. In ash and fiber 

 they are not exceptionable. 



Grown in the same locality, under similar conditions, two specimens of 

 different varieties may vary considerably as was found to be the case 

 with wheat. For examples the following determinations of albuminoids 

 will serve: 



State. 



Serial No. Albuminoids. 



Pennsylvania 

 Pennsylvania 



Georgia. 



(Georgia 



Georgia 



< Georgia 



Illinois 



Illinois 



Minnesota . . . 

 Minnesota ... 



3286 2 

 3049i 

 3049* 

 3049s 

 30494 

 3068i 



/'cr cent. 



3175i : 

 3175s 



15.75 

 i:. 48 

 14.88 

 15. 93 

 14. 1H 



14. 35 



15. 05 

 13.83 

 13.48 



