35 



" Kernel (a) is never so small and miserable as when it is alone as in S t , 

 and never so heavy and well developed as when it is accompanied by two 

 other kernels as in S 3 " (27, p. 18; 28, p. 183). 



This striking fact is clearly demonstrated in the following table which 

 gives the weight of each kernel in the three-kernelled spikelets, in two-kernelled 

 spikelets and in one-kernelled spikelets found on the one plant in each case: 



As a result of his investigations Nilsson concluded that "oat sorts 

 having the highest number of kernels per spikelet are decidedly the most 

 valuable" (27, p. 19 and 27). The same conclusion was arrived at in wheat, 

 thus: "Even in wheat the highest possible number of kernels per spikelet 

 is an especially desirable character, as it carries with it an improved crop 

 not only in respect of quantity but still more in quality" (28, p. 205). In 

 arriving at these conclusions Nilsson made certain reservations, thus: "It 

 now remains for a series of years' testing in larger practice finally to confirm 

 or disprove my here expressed opinion" (28, p. 210). Fifteen years have 

 passed since the above statement was made and it is now only necessary to 

 compare the best sorts of to-day with the number of kernels per spikelet by 

 which they are characterized in order to determine the correctness of these 

 early opinions. Thus the two best oat sorts at Svalof at present, viz.: 

 Victory and Gold Rain, are classified as two-kernelled sorts. On the other 

 hand certain other high yielders, such as Danish Nasgaard are, with relative 

 regularity, three-kernelled. Conversely it has been found that certain rela- 

 tively low yielders, such as Hvitling and 0313 are also three-kernelled sorts, 

 while others again, such as White Probstier are classified as two-kernelled. 

 There seems therefore to be no definite relationship between the yield of a 

 given strain and the number of kernels per spikelet by which it is characterized. 



As regards quality (absolute weight of kernels and percentage hull) the 

 two-kernelled sort Gold Rain stands in the foremost rank, being especially 



