220 Experiments with Varieties of Oats, [july, 



case with the straw, as there were considerable variations in 

 the yield of straw at the three centres. . 



Three points were apparent from the returns of the yield of 

 straw and grain : (i) Potato produced the greatest weight of 

 straw ; (2) Siberian proved a good general purpose or inter- 

 mediate variety, and the same may be said of Newmarket ; (3) 

 Banner, the best grain producer, was in no instance the worst 

 straw producer. 



A comparison in terms of money value is not altogether accu- 

 rate, but assuming, for the sake of comparison, similar values for 

 similar weights, and that the dressed grain is worth 18s. per 

 quarter, and the straw 40s. per ton for feeding, the order of total 

 value of produce is as follows : — 



£ s. d. 



Goldfinder 14 3 7 



Banner 13 8 4 



Newmarket ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 4 5 



Siberian ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 3 6 



Waverley ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 12 10 



Storm King 12 8 10 



Potato .. 12 3 2 



Sandy 10 3 10 



Experiments were also carried out by the Agricultural Sub- 

 Committee of the County Council of Ross and Cromarty on the 

 Same lines, and organised for the same purpose as those con- 

 ducted in Morayshire. With one exception (Hamilton sub- 

 stituted for Siberian) the same varieties were tested, but owing 

 to various causes the result of the trials in Ross and 

 Cromarty are not strictly comparable with the Morayshire 

 results. 



In Morayshire the season was drier, and the harvest weather 

 almost all that could be desired, but in Ross-shire, where the 

 crops on all the plots were heavy and long in the straw, rain 

 and wind before and after cutting introduced new openings for 

 unreliable results. Many of the plots were lodged and twisted, 

 making cutting difficult and the produce of straw impossible to 

 estimate. Again, the stations were far apart, and suffered bad 

 weather in varying degrees. In view, therefore, of the abnormal 

 character of the year, 1903, the results obtained at each station 

 are considered separately in the Report. Taking, however, the 

 relative money value of each variety at each farm, the results 

 were as follows : — 



