130 maine: agricultural, experiment station. 1916. 



(3) The average yield of straw is 3607 pounds per acre 

 with a range of from 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. 



(4) The weight per measured bushel varies from 36.7 to 

 39.7 pounds with an average of 38. 



(5) There is no very definite relation between the weight 

 per bushel and the yield of grain. No. 340 which is one of the 

 best yielding lines gave the highest weight per bushel. On the 

 other hand No. 355 which leads the list as to yield gave one of 

 the lowest average weights per bushel. 



(6) The average number of days from planting to harvest 

 is 106 with only slight variations. The seven lines selected from 

 the Banner variety are later than the others. These give an 

 average of 107 days. The Irish Victor lines average to mature 

 in 104 days. This expresses about the average difference in 

 the time of maturity of these two varieties so that in these 

 respects these lines are not different from their original parents. 



The actual time to maturity is probably somewhat less than 

 the above figures in ordinary seasons for these averages are 

 unduly affected by the extra long growing season in 191 5. 

 Further when grown in large fields these varieties will mature 

 a few days earlier than in our plots. It is always necessary to 

 wait a few days for the marginal plants to mature on a small 

 plot after the center of the plot is ready to cut. 



Description op the Pure Lines. 

 . In the preceding section of this paper we have discussed 

 the origin, development and the comparative analysis of the 

 pure lines based upon their quantitative characters, particularly 

 the yielding ability. From the economic point of view the pro- 

 ductive power is the most important physiological character 01 

 every commercial crop. In this sense the success or failure of 

 the practical breeder naturally depends upon whether he will be 

 able to procure and maintain strains which in their high yield 

 and quality will justify his endeavors. It is, therefore, of great 

 importance for the breeder to have a thorough knowledge of 

 the underlying qualitative characters which are typical of the 

 highest yielding strains and varieties under given environmental 

 conditions. 



The importance of these qualitative, or morphological charac- 

 ters may be seen from the fact that they have frequently been 

 considered as directly correlated with physiological characters. 



