HUSKLESS OATS

Southland Times, Issue 24237, 21 September 1940, Page 12

HUSKLESS OATS

UNUSUAL VARIETY PRAISED SUCCESS OF CROPS IN SOUTHLAND By OBSERVER The production, of an improved variety of huskless (or skinless) white oat has occupied the attention and interest of cereal plant breeders for many years. The origin of the early varieties of this specie is not recorded though it is known that for several centuries the most extensively grown variety of oat in Britain was the Naked (or skinless) oat. In the first half of the century it was widely grown in Wales, Scotland and the North of England where it was preferred to other varieties because of its hardness, and its power of yielding well on poor soils. It was described as a plant bearing five or more flowers on each spikelet and a corresponding number of grains. An important feature was that the husk of the grain opens as in wheat and allows the kernel to go free from the covering which bore it. In 1892 Mr John Garton placed the first of his own productions on the market and this event marked a new era in the growing of oats. New varieties were t produced to suit various soils, climate and requirements. The breeder of plants and animals is ever striving patiently to produce something better than existing types. The propagator of cereal plants is no exception to this rule.

FOOD CONTENT The oat plant furnishes important products of great economic value. Its grain supplies food for man and beast and the straw affords shelter and warmth for stock. The grain producing varieties are those in which the grain forms a relatively higher yield than straw. The seed of the husk-oat comprises the kernel, inner husk and outer husk. This husk differs greatly in composition from the kernel and weighs, on an average, about 25% to 30% of the total weight of the seed. The albuminoids and oil are contained almost entirely in the kernel while the husk contains the bulk of the crude fibre and differs but little in composition from straw. Oat husks in themselves have little feeding value. The proportion of husk to kernel in a sample of oats must therefore be a factor of great importance in determining its value for feeding and milling purposes. The object of propagating a huskless oat was to produce a cereal which would be suitable for certain stock foods and easily digested. The improved huskless oat meets this demand and eliminates the indigestible waste material present in the husk variety. Three years ago an improved huskless variety (on account of its special food value) was introduced into Southland. It has stood up to extremely adverse weather conditions during the past two! seasons and where it has received good treatment it has given a good account of its producing capacity and feeding qualities. Some of the most progressive farmers in this province observe that the crop stands up to weathering much better than other varieties and the seed is not easily shaken. ATTACKS BY BIRDS

One critic has stated that this variety is most severely attacked by birds especially if it is an early crop. While it is recognized that animals and birds show natural good taste in the quality of the food chosen for their consumption, it is also recognized that birds make a mass attack on any early crop of oats. The same writer states that if the crop has not been carefully and properly harvested the seed often fails to germinate. This charge cannot be made solely against this particular variety of seed. Adverse harvesting conditions affect ever}' type of seed. Poor crops have resulted from the wat pickling of seed with formalin. The seed should be treated with a mercurial dust which can be done at any grain store. The sowing should'be three to four bushels an acre. This variety is not recommended for coastal regions where the rainfall is heavy. Crops should be grown for stock food purposes—the straw is sweet and makes excellent chaff while the oats, when threshed, are ideal for the feeding of sheep, cattle, horses, pigs and fowls. Care should be exercised in storing seed in clean, well-ventilated premises to avoid damage by mite and weevil. The huskless oat has come to, stay in Southland, the home of the oat growing industry.