STUDIES ON OAT BREEDING. 145 



tween this pure line and its parent variety has been very con- 

 sistent in each year. 



Maine 355, a Banner selection, probably stands as second 

 choice. This pure line averaged to yield about two bushels per 

 acre more than No. 340 for the three years. However, this 

 higher yield is offset by certain other characters. Thus No. 

 355 is a little more likely to' lodge on very rich soil, or in very 

 wet seasons. It is not weak-strawed, but yet it does not have 

 quite the same resistence as No. 340. No. 355 also showed a 

 relatively high variation in the yield of its 19 15 plots. It has 

 a relatively low bushel weight and a low weight per 1,000 

 kernels. It has, however, given the highest average yield of 

 any of the pure lines. Its average yield is seven bushels above 

 the average of its parent variety for the same years. It also 

 has the lowest hull percentage of any of the pure lines. 



Maine 247, from the Imported Scotch variety, and Maine 

 286 and 357, from the Banner variety, are the least promising 

 of these pure lines when grown under Highmoor conditions. 



The remaining seven lines, Nos. 281, 351, 337, 230, 307, 336 

 and 346 show comparatively slight differences in yield. No. 

 337, an Irish Victor selection, has proved very variable in 

 yield in the different years. In 1913 it gave a very low yield 

 and in 1914 a very high yield. In 191 5 its yield was about the 

 average of the pure lines. While there are some differences in 

 minor characters between the other pure lines, these differ- 

 ences are not of sufficient importance to warrant further dis- 

 cussion. 



Another point which should be emphasized in connection 

 with pure line varieties in general is the evenness with which 

 the plants ripen. The relative time from planting to harvest- 

 ing is an inherent characteristic of different varieties and dif- 

 ferent strains. In many ordinary commercial varieties there 

 are some plants which ripen much earlier than others and like- 

 wise some that ripen very late. The casual observer is not 

 likely to notice this difference but a closer inspection of individ- 

 ual plants shows that this is the case in many varieties. The 

 plants which ripen first are likely to be too ripe when cut and 

 will tend to shatter, thus cutting down the yield. Plants which 

 are late in maturing will be slightly green when cut. Grain 

 from such plants will tend to injure the appearance of the 



