Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-01-08
HighmOOr Furnishes
New Dat Varieties.

Orono, Me-, Jan. 7.-(SpeciaD.- Dbl
rector Charles d. Woods, director of
the Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station here has just given out the
following regarding new varieties of
oats originated at Highmoor:
In the season of 1918 several varie-
ties of oats originated by the Maine
Agricultural Experiment Station were
grown at Highmoor Farm on plots of
sufficient size to give results indica-
tive of the cropping ability of each
under farm conditions. These new
varieties were established as follows
from single plants:
In 1910 individual plants representa-
tive of different types We're selected
from the plots of many varieties of
oats. The seed of each plant was
kept separate and sown in a single
row by itself. Hence all plants in a
row were the descendants of one
plant. Throughout the growing season
notes were made as to the characters
and general behavior of the plants in
these rows. The plants of each row
so the progeny of the original selec-
tions were kept free from admixtures.
Being self pollinated the oat plant
generally breeds true from season to
season. Occasionally natural hybrids
do arise through the crossing of
plants in the field. To those self-fer-
tilted plants which breed true Jo-
hansen Of the University of Copen-
hagen has given the name pure line"
The culture of the progeny of single
oat plants in rows affords a good
basis for the study of the characters
Of the plants and also forms a basis
of measuring the value of the selec-
tions in respect to the yield of grain
and straw. Individual plants, all the
progeny of which the test of two
years showed to be uniform in type
and possessing the ability to transmit
the character Of high yield, We're pro-
pagated the following season in plots
of -thousandth acre in area. This
was necessary because of the small
amount of seed available. The test in
plots of this area showed some of the
pure lines to be worthy of further
trial. These promising lines were pro-
pagated the following year in fertieth
acre plots. During the past season at
Highmoor there were 40 of these plots
representing the descendants of SO
plants selected in the season of 1910.
Some of these appear very promising.
These 80 pure lines represent all the
plants cut of 800 originally selected
that were deemed worthy of propa-
cation. Further, some of the SO lines
will be taken out of the test this year
because they are no better than
strains already on the market. One of
the most productive pure lines is
worthy of mention here. This new
variety, Maine 357, represents an cat
characterized by tall stiff straw aver
aging four feet in height, carrying
open spreading heads. The grain is
white, fairly long. plump and well fill
ed. On two fortieth acre plots during
the past season this oat yielded at
the rate of SILL bushels per acre.
Besides this new variety known as
Maine 357 there are six varieties of
equal importance whose yields in 1913
ranged from II to IS bushels per acre.
All of these varieties originated by
the Station are characterized by stin
straw, spreading heads and white
plump grain In 1913 these seven new
varieties produced an average yield of
"A bushels Of grain per acre. Twenty
one commercial varieties representing
the best oats ohtainable in the seed
markets of this country were also
tested at Highmoor last season. These
yielded an average of 81 bushels of
grain per acre as compared with a
bushels produced by the seven varie-
ties originated by the Station.
Before final decision is made in
regard to these lines it will be neces-
sary to continue the test during an
other season. At present, suffice it to