154 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, I914. 



tion given above. The first of these groups is characterized by 

 medium sized but slender straight grains. The varieties Silver 

 Mine, Early Pearl and Lincoln are typical of this group. These 

 varieties all have medium coarse straw varying from 37 to 40 

 inches in height. The leaves are of medium width and vary 

 from medium to dark green in color. The heads are medium 

 sized, symmetrical and spreading. The varieties belonging to this 

 group and which have been continued in these tests are Silver 

 Mine, Irish Victor, Early Pearl, Lincoln, Minnesota No. 26, 

 Prosperity and Danish Island. Of these the Silver Mine and 

 Irish Victor have particularly slender grains. The straw of 

 each is medium stiff with a slight tendency to lodge on rich soil. 

 The Silver Mine averages 40 to 41 inches tall, while the Irish 

 Victor varies from 37 to 39 inches under our conditions. 



The Lincoln and Prosperity resemble each other in many re- 

 spects. The Prosperity has slightly coarser straw and its grains 

 are shorter and more plump. 



Minnesota No. 26. This variety was originated at the Minne- 

 sota Experiment Station. It represents a selection from the 

 variety known as the Early Gothland. The Minnesota No. 26 

 has been very widely grown in the middle west and has proved 

 to be a good yielding variety. 



This variety has medium coarse straw and is somewhat 

 shorter than the other varieties in this group. It averages 36 

 to sy inches in height. The grains are long and well filled, of 

 a good white color. 



The Early Pearl. This variety was secured from Mr. R. L. 

 Copeland of Brewer, Maine, who writes of it as follows: "I 

 can truthfully claim this oat originated with myself. The first 

 seed was obtained from a bunch growing by the roadside some 

 twenty years ago, presumably from one seed. It was examined 

 and showed such merit that it was cut and preserved for seed. 

 Although the first seed was not secured by me personally, it 

 soon after came into my possession. The oat seemed to possess 

 excellent qualities and as it matured fairly early and had a 

 pearly tint to the hull, I gave it the name of Early Pearl. It 

 must have always contained real merit for it is only in recent 

 years that I have tried to improve it." 



This variety breeds true and in all respects appears to be a 

 pure line. It has stiff straw of medium size, averaging 3810 40 



