STUDIES ON OAT BREEDING. I4I 



Table 12 gives in the third column the weight per 1,000 ker- 

 nels of the respective pure lines. In determining this weight 

 the general method of using only the lower or larger kernel of 

 the spikelet was followed. It is obvious that it is necessary to 

 use the same form of kernel throughout the measurements 

 when comparative values are sought. 



From Table 12 it is noted that the lines of the Irish Victor 

 group and Lines No. 247 rank highest as to the weight per 1,000 

 kernels. It is interesting to note that the highest yielding line, 

 No.. 355, shows the lowest kernel weight. 



Hull percentage. The economic value of the oat is deter- 

 mined by the naked kernel and it is, therefore, of importance to 

 determine what part of the grain as a whole is made up by the 

 hulls. From Table 12 it will be seen that the hull percentage 

 does not quite parallel the weight per 1,000 kernels. Thus Line 

 No. 346 ranks lowest as to hull percentage while it occupies 

 the sixth place with regard to kernel weight. Similar points 

 are noted for Lines No. 281 and No. 286. Line No. 340 has a 

 comparatively low hull percentage considering its high weight 

 per 1,000 kernels. Line No. 355 shows the lowest bull percent- 

 age. 



Table 12 also gives the data regarding the relation between 

 the weight of the naked kernels and the hulls. The weight of 

 hulls of 1,000 kernels has been calculated from the hull percent- 

 age and weight per 1,000 kernels (Cf. Bohmer, loc cit., p. 35). 

 The lines 247, 340, 336 and 346 have the highest absolute weight 

 of the hulls. While with the three first lines named the high 

 weight of the hulls is balanced by the high weight of the naked 

 kernels with Line No. 346, the high relative and absolute weight 

 of the hulls is not followed by a corresponding high weight of 

 the naked grain. Line No. 355 has the lightest hulls and Line 

 No. 247 the heaviest. 



To complete the description of the pure lines a few data may 

 be given with regard to the germination of the grain. The 

 germination tests were carried out in two series with 200 kernels 

 of each line. 



The results given in Table 13 do not show any great varia- 

 tion in the percentage of the germinated kernels of the pure 

 lines. The total average for all the lines is 98.9 per cent whic'n 

 indicates a very high germination quality. 



