OAT BREEDING.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18342, 27 March 1925, Page 3

OAT BREEDING.

RESULTS AT LINCOLN COLLEGE.

In 1917 Lincoln College extended its plant-breeding work to oats, and the liral results -were obtainable two years ago, when the now well-known College Algerians were distributed. A grant from the Department of Agriculture, started in 1910, allowed the work to be extended, and the harvest just completed lias brought to light successes with two other varieties. The first of these is Duns. Six years ago 50 heads of Duns were seleeted from a farmer's crop, and the seed from eacli head was sown in a separate row. Of the 50 rows the best 10 were kept, and each was sown next year in a plot about one-fortieth of an acre in extent. From these 10 the best three were kept, and at this stage it was obvious that the strain numbered A3l was of considerable merit. The three strains were tried again next year, and A3l proved the best of them, as it did agnin in the following season. Enough seed had now been obtained for a large scale trial, which was conducted by growing A3l in five different plots in a field, interspersed with other strains and with commercial seed. A3l averaged three bushels per acre over the commercial seed. Last season the strain was subjected to the elaborate halfdrill strip trial. Twenty-four plots were sown with seed of the pure strain, and alternating with them 24 plots of commercial seed. These plots ran right across the field and removed almost completely any inequalities due to soil variations. Duns A3l gave, on the average of all the plots, 3J bushels per acre more than commercial seed. This strain has, therefore, been considered as sufficiently tried, and has been made available to farmers under tho name of "College Duns." As with all Duns, this strain grows slowly and creepingly during winter. It tillers extensively and produces great growth in spring, though its value as green feed has not been tested. The straw is fine, somewhat weak, and, in a season such as last, rust is liable. Owing to the whole strain having been bred up from a single seed it ripens more regularly than commercial seed, the top grain rarely shaking before the straw is ready to cut. The other variety with which success has been attained is Danish, an oat that used to be popular in Canterbury, but has been largely replaced by Gartons. The method of trial and selection was as acre better than commercial; 1925, is now available to farmers under the name of College Danish. This is a bold growing oat, much like Gartons in general habit and appearance. The grain is, however, a full yellow in colour, never white under any circumstances. It appears to be a really good yielder under our conditions, but no feeding-ofE trials have been made. The following is a summary of the record of College Danish: —Harvest of 1920, in the best 10 out of 50; 1921, in the best 3 out of 10; 1922, second best of

the strains tried; 1923, 4 per cent, better than commercial; 1924, 4 bushels per acre better than commercial; 1925, 3$ bushels per acre better than commercial.