STUDIES ON OAT BREEDING. iS/ 



From table 12 it is seen : 



1. That the average weight per bushel for all varieties 'for 

 all four years is 38.16 pounds. The Regenerated Swedish Select 

 and the Victor averaged to weigh the most per bushel. The 

 Imported Scotch and Kherson show the smallest weight per 

 bushel. 



2. In the first three years there was very little difference in 

 the average weight per bushel of these eleven varieties. The 

 highest average was in 1911 (39.34 lbs.) and the lowest in 1910 

 (38.88 lbs.). The difference is less than one-half pound. 



3. In 191 3, however, there was a very decided drop in the 

 bushel weight of all varieties except the Kherson. The average 

 of all eleven varieties in 191 3 was only 35.3 pounds. This is a 

 decrease of nearly 4 pounds from the averages obtained in the 

 other years. This decrease in bushel weight in 191 3 is probably 

 due to the seasonal conditions. The weather was very dry dur- 

 ing the time that the grain was filling. Further the 191 3 plots 

 were on lighter soil which dried out more quickly than the plots 

 of other years. It seems probable that these conditions caused 

 the lighter weight. 



4. It is of interest to note that the Kherson variety showed 

 an increase in weight in 1913. This may be accounted for by 

 the fact that the Kherson matures earlier than the other varie- 

 ties and hence formed its grain before the dry weather. 



5. It is further of interest to note that the Kherson oats 

 show a progressive increase in the weight per bushel. In 1910 

 this variety weighed only 30.2 pounds per bushel; in 191 1, 33.1 ; 

 in 1912, 35.3 and in 1913, 36.2 pounds. Thus in 1913 the Kher- 

 son was among the heaviest oats grown. Whether this change 

 is simply a fluctuation due to seasonal conditions or whether the 

 variety is being changed by its growth under Maine conditions 

 cannot be ascertained at present. It will be of interest to follow 

 the bushel weight of this variety in later years. 



6. The average standard deviation of these eleven varieties 

 is 2.2 pounds and the average coefficient of variation is 5.74 

 percent. Comparing this coefficient of variation with those for 

 grain and straw weight of the same varieties (Tables 8 and 11^ 

 it is seen that they are considerably less variable in bushel weight 

 than in other characters. 



