1907.] Milling Properties of Oats. 267 



and badly dressed grain is much greater than is generally 

 supposed, and sufficiently accounts for the lower price offered 

 for mixed grain, and is probably one reason why some millers 

 dislike samples of the newer varieties. 



Different Varieties. — Other things being equal, variations 

 in the milling power of different varieties depend on (a) the 

 thickness of the husk and (b) the shape of the kernel. 



The former factor has usually concealed the importance 

 of the latter. For example, the husk of Newmarket is actually 

 thicker than the husk of Potato, although, as we have seen, 

 the proportion of husk in Newmarket is less than the proportion 

 of husk in Potato. Hence Newmarket, in spite of a thicker 

 husk, is a better milling oat than Potato. The explanation 

 of this anomaly is found in the shape of the kernel. Some 

 varieties have a kernel which fills up and is closely covered 

 by the husk ; in others the so-called " fine short plump oats," 

 the husk fits badly. There is a space between the end of the 

 kernel and the husk. For want of a better word we have 

 described the most economical shape of kernel as rectangular 

 and long, and such a kernel neutralises the loss due to a thick 

 husk. The following are examples of the various types, and 

 given equal conditions and a good season, the order of merit 

 from a milling standpoint would probably be as shown by the 

 figures to the right of the name. 



Thin husk — 



Long rectangular kernel ... Sandwich ... ... (i) 



Moderately long kernel { Scotch Birlie Z } 



(2) 



Short pointed kernel ... ... Potato... ... ... (3) 



Thick husk — 



c Newmarket ... ... \ 



Long rectangular kernel ...-{Abundance ... ... -(2) 



. . .-i Auuiiuaiiue ... ... r\ 



I Thousand Dollar ...J 

 f Banner 

 \ Siberian 

 ( Storm King 



j . . (' Banner ) 



Long pointed kernel { Siberian f& 



r btorm Isang ... 

 Short pointed kernel ... ... A Tartar King ... ... J- (4) 



I Bonanza ... ... J 



The combination of long rectangular kernel, with a thin 

 husk, makes the best milling oat ; and such is the first on 

 the list. It is the shape of the kernels of Newmarket, 

 Abundance and Thousand Dollar which enables them to 

 compete successfully as milling oats with Potato and Scotch 



