NILSSON'S DISCOVERY 87 



defects, hairy scales and long awns. On account of these 

 deficiencies, it was considered improbable that it could ever 

 be introduced into practice. During four years the race kept 



Fig. 26. Svalof oats with weak branches. 



pure and true to its characters, but in the year i8g6 one single 

 plant distinguished itself by the lack of awns and by a some- 

 what deviating size and shape of the ears. Its grains were 

 saved separately and produced a very heterogeneous mixture 



