124 



from which it was taken. It is, however, much too weak in the straw, so 

 has been crossed with Gold Rain (See Fig. 33) . 



A pedigree sort known as Yellow Nasgaard, recently introduced from 

 Denmark, has proven exceptionally promising at Svalof, and may possibly 

 excel Victory under certain conditions. This sort was selected from Danish 

 Island in 1899, by Vestergaard of the Abed Station, Denmark, and despite 

 all efforts to obtain a better sort, it can still be said to hold first place on the 

 best soils in that country, although on poorer soils it is said not to be able 

 to compete with the old Mother Sort (26, p. 654). On the average of the 

 past five years' trials at Svalof, Nasgaard has given the highest yield of all 

 sorts, although a later pedigree (0318) from Probstier has, during the three 

 years it has been in the tests, proven more productive. 



Leading 

 black oat 

 sorts. 



Photo by L. H. N. 



FIG. XXXIII. Oat plots Gold Rain (No. 19) and Svalof s Dala, 0924 (No. 20) showing 

 relative strengths of straw. 



The American Banner, which has been among the most productive 

 sorts in Denmark for many years, has also proven very promising at Svalof. 

 It is the present intention to make a pedigree analysis of this sort with a 

 view to isolating, if possible, a superior strain. 



In certain parts of the district known as Middle Sweden are large tracts 

 where black varieties of oats are preferred. The common sorts of the country 

 were grown exclusively in these places up to about 25 or 30 years ago when 

 the Black Tartarian was introduced. On account of the stiffer straw of this 

 sort it came to displace very largely the old sorts, but with the advent of 

 new improved sorts from Svalof it in turn, was forced to occupy a minor 

 position. 



