812 
THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
regards our own farm on a soil of light sandy loam we have 
found that a poor seed has produced a poorer sample. Thus 
in a field of black oats sown with perfect germinating seed, 
the weight of which was 40 lb. per bushel, our crop of ten 
sacks an acre did not exceed 38 lb. the bushel. 
The next year we procured some of the heaviest seed in the 
market, namely, some white Canadian oats of 48 lb. per 
bushel, and the resulting crop was 12 sacks an acre, with a 
market sample of 374- lb. to the bushel. 
These simple facts, then, so far seemed to show the advantage 
of good seed that we have always endeavoured to obtain the 
best to be got, and though crops will of course vary with the 
season, yet our observations and register of facts has established 
the principle that the heaviest and best seed oats are the 
cheapest. 
If we look at the common-sense reasons for this they will 
be found by carefully studying the origin of the oat ; the seed 
of the common wild oat Arena fatua, or its congener, Arena 
strigosa, will seldom exceed 14 lb. per bushel, and our experi- 
ments in the ennobling of the former has established the 
position that improvement is marked by the production of a 
heavier seed. 
Another important point in cultivation which experiment 
has settled in our own mind is, that half the seed usually 
sown produces better results than double the quantity which 
is the rule. 
In 1869 we could point to two neighbouring fields of oats, 
each of about ten acres ; these were as near alike in soil and 
cultivation, and other attendant circumstances and conditions 
as possible, except that in one field as much as five bushels of 
seed had been sown to the acre, in the other but two bushels 
to the acre. 
Now the results as observed before cutting were about as 
follows : 
The crop seeded with five bushels of seed had a majority of 
straws the size of a crow-quill, the whole plant being about a 
yard high, the floral panicles having but few seeds. 
Produce estimated at eight sacks an acre. 
The crop seeded with two bushels of seed: — 
Had a majority of straws the size of a goose-quill. The 
whole plant was from four to six feet in height ; seed panicle 
large and heavy. 
Ascertained produce twelve sacks an acre. 
The drought of the past year has resulted in but a poor 
crop, but still the weight is nearly 45 lb. a bushel. 
