UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA OAT VARIETIES IN CALIFORNIA W. W. MACKIE Based on data gathered in cooperation between the Office of Cereal Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, and the California Agricultural Experiment Station. BULLETIN 467 April, 1929 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRINTING OFFICE BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1929 OAT VARIETIES IN CALIFORNIA W. W. MACKIEi v Oats in California have in general occupied a secondary place in cereal production, but in many areas of the state this crop is very important, because good crops of oats are produced where other cereals fail to yield satisfactory crops. Oats have always been highly valued for hay but the decline in the number of work horses and mules because of the increased use of tractors on farms, has reduced the hay used for feeding them to a negligible point. The increase of the dairy industry has in a corresponding degree improved the demand for oats as hay and pasture. N The poultry industry has increased tremendously and would consume large quantities of oats if the quality of the local product were sufficiently attractive. None of the varieties of oats formerly grown in California were suitable for the manufacture of human foods and two expensive mills were closed because all oats had to be imported. This condition has recently been changed by the introduction of improved varieties of oats well adapted to California conditions. This bulletin gives the results secured by these oat investigations. OAT AREAS Oats require for best production a cool moist climate. Briggs and Shantz (2)2 state that Sixty Day oats require 491 pounds of water to produce 1 pound of dry matter, as compared with 416 pounds for Beldi barley. These conditions apply more particularly to the com- mon white oat (Avena sativa), which is the usual species of oat grown in all but arid hot areas. In such regions the arid-region oat (A. byzantina) , which includes the California Red (Texas Red, Red Rust Proof, and other synonyms) and California Black (Coast Black) oats, are far more reliable in production of both hay and oats. For a better understanding of the oat regions of California, the state has been divided into climatic areas (fig. 1). The yields of oats and the rainfall in each area are given in table 1. 1 Associate Agronomist in the Experiment Station. 2 Superscript numbers in parentheses refer to ' ' Literature Cited, ' ' page 45. University of California — Experiment Station IK [T / v 4 ^ ^ OAT AREAS OF CALIFORNIA Each dot represents 100 , US Ccntvt 1919 U3 i0 SA# BCRNARruNO rurcnsroc 6 F5" Fig. 1. — Climatic areas and oat production. 1, Northwestern; 2, coastal, northern; 3, coastal, southern; 4, northeastern; 5 interior valleys; 6 southeastern. Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California table l Climatic Areas and Yield of Oats Climatic areas a Annual rainfall, inches Bushels per acre b 80-120 12- 20 16- 30 18- 32 4- 16 3- 6 35.4 21.4 27.2 17 1 17.4 23.5 30 6 a Climatic areas as given in figure l. 13 b Average for 1909 to 1913 from: Yearbook of Agriculture 1927:792. c Irrigation required. It will be noted that high rainfall and a cool climate favor the yield of oats. The principal oat areas as shown on the map (fig. 1) indicate that oat production is influenced by the cool moisture-laden winds which blow in from the Pacific Ocean and spread to the north and south when they strike the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Within this region, areas where oats are principally grown do not always correspond to the rainfall and favorable temperatures but are fixed by the hardiness of oats when competing with other cereals. In the areas largely devoted to oats wheat and barley have failed to produce successful crops ; oats on the contrary are consistent producers and in addition may be grown over longer periods without summer fallow, crop rotation, or rest for the soil. While the practice of continual or annual cropping is possible, the oat crop responds promptly to better tillage and crop rotation. v The average yield of oats in California over a period of 34 years is 30.0 bushels per acre as compared with 31.5 bushels per acre for the whole United States. Over much of the oat area of the state, this yield is not reached. Improved yields per acre will follow the growing of better-adapted varieties, as will be shown later in this bulletin. Oats thrive best in loamy and heavy soils which are retentive of moisture. Cold wet soils are better adapted to oats than to other cereals. Alkali and saline soils may, if the climatic conditions are favorable, produce crops of oats where wheat and barley would fail. For best crops oats should be sown early, for this crop is even more responsive to early seeding than other cereals. Late-sown oats may mature in warm dry weather with correspondingly poor yields and impaired quality. Oats shatter badly and should be harvested promptly at maturity. University of California — Experiment Station EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS UNDER SPECIES GROUPS Since oats came into prominence in production, the California or Texas Red oat has been the standard variety almost to the complete exclusion of all others with the exception of Coast Black, grown in the coastal areas immediately north and south of San Francisco Bay. Ability to produce fair to good crops under adverse conditions, especially drought and heat, during the maturing period, has given the red oat the preference over all other varieties which have from time to time been introduced into the state. The defects of the Cali- fornia Red oat are its rather light yields, poor quality of kernel, coarseness of hull, susceptibility to stem rust and smut, and late maturity. The Coast Black variety, while hardy on the coast, pos- sesses a coarse black hull, matures late, and is not a high yielder. The hay from these two varieties, is satisfactory. (6) In order to replace these two hardy well-established oats by superior varieties, the best varieties available were secured and tested. These tests, conducted cooperatively with the Cereal Office of the United States Department of Agriculture, were begun by placing large numbers of varieties under the rod-row system in representative oat-producing areas. The rod-row method consists of planting for each variety a measured quantity of seed in rows approximately a rod or more in length, each separated by a space of one foot and replicated from 3 to 5 inches. At harvest 15 feet of row is threshed, and the weight in grams of threshed seed calculated to bushels per acre by short-cut methods. The tests were conducted in cooperation with the farm advisors of the counties concerned, on ranches of pro- gressive and interested farmers, and at the regular experiment stations at Davis in Yolo County, Kearney Park in Fresno County, and El Centro in Imperial County. In order to test the adaptability of oats in the principal oat- producing regions, especially where stem-rust attacks have made serious inroads in the crop, the most extensive tests were conducted at Eureka and Salinas during the season 1919-20. Similar tests were made at Berkeley at the same time. The results of the stem-rust investigations, conducted in cooperation with the Office of Cereal Investigations, United States Department of Agriculture, have been reported. (11) The varieties tested were included under the various species as follows : Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 7 Varieties Common or white oats Avena sativa L 142 Side or banner oats A. sativa orientalis Schreb 35 Arid region oats (wild) A. sterilis L Arid region oats (tame) A. byzantina C. Koch 30 Naked or hulless oats A. nuda L 6 Short oats A. brevis Roth 3 Hairy or hay oats A. strigosa Schreb 4 Common wild oat A./atua L 3 Slender wild oat A. barbata Brot JL. The species of oats are of importance by reason of the characters embraced in each and their effect upon the varieties of oats derived from them. The greater number of all varieties are included in the Avena sativa species. This species was derived from the wild oat of northern Europe, A. fatua, and is adapted to the cool wet climate of that region. The species A. sterilis, on the other hand, is found in the Mediterranean region, especially in northern Africa where a hot arid climate exists. The arid-region oat, A. byzantina, was derived from A. sterilis. The varieties included are possessed, therefore, of the characters of heat and drought resistance. A. barbata, the slender wild oat, originated in Europe in rocky, mountainous areas with poor soils. From it were descended A. strigosa, the hairy oat, and A. brevis, the short oat. Both are very hardy and produce good crops of very fine straw rendering them excellent hay oats, but not being dual purpose oats (grain and hay), they cannot fully meet the requirements of a standard variety. A. nuda, or naked oats, orig- inated in central Asia, where many varieties were selected out and grown because of the ease with which the hulls are separated from the kernel or meat in the preparation of them for human food. It shatters badly and is a poor yielder here. The side or banner oat, A. sativa orientalis, is a form of the common white oat in which the head of the panicle flows to one side like a flag or horse mane. It is the poorest of all oats in its resistance to heat and drought. The wild oats were tested because these oats are annually made into hay in large quantities everywhere in the state. It was anticipated that some of the species group (4) tested would contain varieties with desir- able characters which could be used in breeding varieties for superior local adaptation. The agronomic and morphological characters and stem-rust resist- ance of the varieties tested are given in table 2. University of California — Experiment Station TABLE 2 Experiments with Oats for Quality and Adaptation Species and variety Avena brevis Roth. Avena fatua L. California wild oat Avena nuda L. chinensis Chinese Hulless inermis Liberty Liberty Liberty Avena sativa L. Abundance Abyssinian Albion Albion Albion (Iowa 103) aristata aurea aurea Awnless Probsteier Banner Banner Banner Belyak Belyak Big Four Big Four Big Four Black Black American Black Diamond Black Mesdag Black Tartarian brunnea Canadian Canadian (Barley Oat) Caucasus Lot No a 134d 142a 289a 290A C1024 30i W686 294a 292a 293A C1000 43i 277a 305a 269a 303a 270a 304a 151 35g 7s 328a 114d 271a C1031 W764 115e 306a 272a 307a W1036 295a 185a 116e 117e 238a 8i 119e W1179 279a C.I. No. 1783 1779 298 1768 845 1769 731 1747 729 729 729 1772 1888 160 1191 1899 1725 179 1641 549 1878 1877 1892 1806 1754 Culm Ht. 1 Size Matu- rity* 1 Stem rust e 3- 4- 3+ 4- 4 4- 3+ 3+ 4- 3+ 4 4- 3 4- 3 3 3 4- 3- 4- 4- 4- 4 4 4- 4- 3+ 4 4 4- 4- 4- 4- 3 3 4- 3+ 3- 4- Bushels per acre Salinas 103 45 37 101 58 53 46 77 41 Eureka 8 180 119 39 43 101 53 35 148 58 86 17 101 69 44 130 34 67 65 93 122 149 152 64 133 214 a Cereal number under which the variety was received; C, California; W, Washington; K, Kansas; I, Iowa. b Ht, height of culm including panicle; T=tall; M = medium; S=short. c Size of culm; L = large; M = medium; S=small. d Maturity; L = late; M = midseason; E= early. e Scale indicating resistance to stem rust: 0=immunity; l=extreme resistance; 2 = moderate resistance; 3 = moderate susceptibility; 4 = complete susceptibility. f Test plots near Salinas in Monterey County. g Test plots near Eureka in Humboldt County. Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California Table 2 — (Continued) Lot No. a C. I. No. Culm Matu- rity* 1 Stem rust e Bushels per acre Species and variety Ht. b Size c Salinas' Eureka 8 C. I. 602 (Etheridge) C. I. 603 (Etheridge) Culberson 145a 146a 192a 193a C1022 C1032 149a 309a 310a 311a W767 C1025 196a 197a 162a 273a C1033 297a 313a 314a 315a 275a 316a W1055 W663 121e 203a 276a 194-4 C1019 296a 317a 318a W772 125e 157a C1021 W1047 C1029 159a 329a C1015 C1018 W1197 278a 602 603 273 273-V M M T S M T M T M S S T M M M M M M L L M L S L L L S S M L M M L L L M M L L L M M M L L L M M L M M 3+ 4 3 4- 3- 4- 4 4- 4- 3 3+ 3+ 3 3- 4- 4 3+ 3 3 + 3+ 4- 3 3 3+ 4 4 1— and 1 1- and3- 2- 3 3 + 3 4 4- 1 to 2+ 4 3- 4- 3- 3 + 4- 4- 4- 32 52 80 31 75 59 55 98 69 96 26 30 47 117 77 33 96 13 61 Danish 84 Danish Island 39 Danish Island 1669 1666 1684 1193 50 Danish Island 27 Danish Island Dryland Dun 79 Dwarf Culberson Early Champion Early Gothland 748 1623 37 53 29 Early Mountain No. 2 Garton473 656 1613 1750 1748 1749 493 1751 1929 T T T T T M S M L S L M M L M L 53 47 103 101 74 94 66 73 72 147 Garton473 88 Golden 73 Golden Beauty 74 Golden Fleece 82 Golden Rain Golden Rustproof 69 66 Golden Rustproof Gray T M T M L L M M L L ' L L L E M M L 56 Green Russian 94 Green Russian 1683 827 77 44 73 Green Russian Green Russian 34 69 Guyra 2034 838 1622 1690 S s s T S L M M 67 74 84 72 Hatchett 82 Hay Heavyweight Champion Highland 72 40 v Joanette 1880 1902 T M T M S S L E E 48 13 67 93 June.. 19 Kherson 151 Kherson 1198 Kherson M T T T T M M M M M E E L M L 65 61 39 71 37 119 Kherson Selection 1905 1771 41 Krausei 65 Lincoln 143 Long White 69 Maine No. 340 1935 721 Minnesota No. 26 T L L 4 74 76 a Cereal number under which the variety was received; C, California; W, Washington; K, Kansas; I, Iowa. b Ht, height of culm including panicle; T=tall; M = medium; S=short. Size of culm; L=large; M = medium; S = small. d Maturity; L = late; M = midseason; E = early. e Scale indicating resistance to stem rust: = immunity; 1 = extreme resistance; 2 = moderate resistance; 3 = moderate susceptibility; 4=complete susceptibility. f Test plots near Salinas in Monterey County. g Test plots near Eureka in Humboldt County. 10 University of California — Experiment Station Table 2 — (Continued) Species and variety Monarch Selection Montana Mortgage Lifter mutica mutica mutica mutica mutica mutica mutica mutica Nebraska No. 21 New Market nigra nigra North Finnish North Finnish Palouse Wonder Potato (Ey. Mt.) praegravis praegravis praegravis President :.... Richland Richland Roosevelt Rossman Rurakura Sandwich Scottish Chief Siberian Siberian Silvermine Silvermine Sixty Day Sixty Day Sixty Day Sixty Day Selection... Snoma Swedish Crown Swedish Crown Swedish Selection Swedish Selection Swedish Selection Swedish Selection Swedish Selec'n (Ligowa) Swedish Selec'n Lot No. a 161a 258a W775 42k 43c 49e 51g 52g 53e 330a 331a 280a W1048 70g 12 123e C1002 W748 W759 62f 332a 333a 319a 281a 320a 321a 322a 173 W758 124e 282a 323a 220a 120 223a C1004 W661 C1010 C274 C1006 W1035 226a 228a 231a W662 227a W1088 CI. No. 1879 1761 1716 841 1882 1801 1773 1773 1775 1629 787 787 1632 1688 791 1194 1901 741 1712 659 165 165 1906 134 552 1634 1740 1740 Culm Ht. b Size Matu- rity d Stem rust e 4- 4 3+ 4 4- 4 3 + 3+ 4 4- 3+ 4- 4- 3+ 4 4- 4- 4- 3 4- 4- 1- 3 3+ 1 + 3 4 4- 3 4 4 2 2+ 2+ 3- 1 4 4- 4 3 3+ 3 4- 3 Bushels per acre Salinas' 59 4 63 40 120 41 28 55 75 77 123 60 83 18 16 31 48 66 82 48 103 76 54 25 65 273 68 47 63 31 102 141 54 128 Ht, height of culm including panicle; T=tall; M = medium; S = short. c Size of culm; L = large; M = medium; S = small. d Maturity; L = late; M = midseason; E = early. e Scale indicating resistance to stem rust: = immunity; l = extreme resistance; 2 = moderate resistance; 3 = moderate susceptibility; 4 = complete susceptibility. Test plots near Salinas in Monterey County. g Test plots near Eureka in Humboldt County. Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 11 Table 2 — (Continued) Species and variety Swedish Selec'n Swedish Victory Tartarian King Tobolsk Tobolsk trisperma Victory Victory Victory Vogt. New Era Wernicke's Golden ... White Bonanza White Maine White Queen Winter Turf Winter Turf Winter Turf Winter Turf Winter Turf Black X Sixty Day... Avena sativa orientalis L Black Tartarian Black Tartarian Eclipse Eclipse Garton748 Garton 748 Garton Gray German type German type German type Golden Giant Green Mountain Improved Roberts Long's White Tartar.. mutica obtusata setosa Short Tartarian Sparrowbill Sparrowbill Storm King Storm King White Egyptian White Tartar White Tartar White Tartar Lot No. a 159 C1007 113d 112e 232a 334a 126f 283a 283a CI 023 324a 325a 326a 327a 169a 235a 236a 237a W1030 W1186 308a W762 274a 312a 298a 109e 172a 335a 336a 337a 173a HOe C1017 C1026 32i 33i 302a C1027 llle C1030 112d C1001 300a 284a C1016 301a C. I. No. 1893 1709 1776 1875 560 1672 1650 1651 1700 195-15 274-20 673 1763 843 843 1612 1863 1866 1872 1618 1867 1812 1605 551 1614 Culm Ht. b Size 1 Matu- rity' 1 Stem rust e 4- 4 4 4 3 + 4- 4 3+ 3 3 4- 4 3 4 4- 4 4 3+ 1— and 4 3+ 3 3 4- 4- 4 4- 3+ 1- 4- 1- 1 3 4- 3- 4 3 4 4- 4 1 + 1 1 Bushels per acre Salinas f Eureka* 56 19 34 12 39 38 42 25 31 6 42 18 8 145 25 94 191 92 3 109 13 115 36 56 32 100 29 15 52 80 23 55 50 25 10 70 107 43 13 21 57 43 70 82 134 25 34 32 54 b Ht, height of culm including panicle; T = tall; M = medium; S=short. c Size of culm; L=large; M = medium; S=small. d Maturity; L=late; M = midseason; E=early. e Scale indicating resistance to stem rust: 0=immunity; l=extreme resistance; 2 = moderate resistance ; 3 = moderate susceptibility ; 4 = complete susceptibility. f Test plots near Salinas in Monterey County. g Test plots near Eureka in Humboldt County. 12 University of California — Experiment Station Table 2 — (Concluded) Species and variety White Tartar White Tartar White Tartar White Tartar White Tartar White Tartar White Tartar White Tartar White Tartar Avena sterilis L. Bathurst No. 4 Burt Burt Burt Burt Burt Burt Burt Selection California Red Early Ripe Early Ripe Fulghum Fulghum Improved California Red Italian Rustproof Italian Rustproof ludoviciana Dur nigra nigra No. 356 Red Algerian Red Rustproof Red Rustproof Red Rustproof Sterilis Selection Sunrise Red Rustproof Turkish Rustproof Turkish Rustproof (Received unnamed) Avena strigosa Schreb. Lot No. a 193-4 I102-K 1102-^-5 1102-^-7 K6096 174a C1020 299a W739 C1014 67n 74k 175a 253a C1005 125 C1011 CI 003 75j 126 257a 129f C1013 258a 259a 291a C1008 130c C1009 C286 263a 265a 167 132e C1012 W768 267a 268a 28k 29j 133e 1119-3 1119-4 C.I. No. 1615 441 1810 1798 1026 708 850 1811 388-6 388-6 1781 286 1859 1799 356 356-12 1782 Culm Ht. b Size c Matu- rity d Stem rust e 1- 1- 1- 0+ 1- 1 4- 0+ 4- 2+ 3 2+ 3+ 3+ 3- 3+ 4- 4 3- 2+ 3+ 4- 3 4 4 3 3- 3+ 3 3+ 3- 3 3+ 2+ 3+ 4 4 2 3- 3 3+ Bushels per acre Salinas 48 120 109 104 113 60 104 48 65 74 135 40 58 104 3 90 51 162 29 208 30 a Cereal number under which the variety was received; C, California; W, Washington; K, Kansas; I, Iowa. b Ht, height of culm including panicle; T = tall; M = medium; S=short. c Size of culm; L = large; M = medium; S=small. d Maturity; L = late; M = midseason; E = early. e Scale indicating resistance to stem rust: = immunity; l = extreme resistance; 2 = moderate resistance; 3 = moderate susceptibility; 4 = complete susceptibility. f Test plots near Salinas in Monterey County. *■ Test plots near Eureka in Humboldt County. Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 13 Some of the best varieties that escape stem rust because of early maturity are: (3) Fulghum, 257a; Early Champion, 197a; Sixty Day, 223a ; Turkish Rust-proof, 268a ; Avena nuda inermis, 294a ; Abyssin- ian, 303a; Albion, 301a; Black, C 1008; and Wisconsin Pedigree 156, C 1029. The more promising rust-resistant varieties include : (11) Joanette, 125a; Richland, 320a; Ruakura, I 73; Snoma, C 274; Green Mountain, R 110e; Long's White Tartar, C 1026; and White Tartar (White Rus- sian I102-i/ 2 -7). The stem-rust resistance of the varieties in these groups was tested under artificial inoculation in the greenhouse and in artificially inocu- lated field plots at Berkeley, as well as in field tests at Eureka and Salinas. All of the rust-escaping varieties were found to be susceptible to stem-rust attack with artificial inoculation, but the rust-resistant group maturing later were found rust-resistant under epidemic attack under all circumstances. By comparing fifteen of the best-yielding oats grown at Salinas and Eureka, an indication of regional adaptation of varieties may be secured. These differences are shown in tables 3 and 4. TABLE 3 The Best- Yielding Varieties in Tests at Salinas Compared with the Same Varieties at Eureka Salinas Height a Matu- rity 15 Stem rust c Eureka Varieties Bu. per acre Rank Bu. per acre Rank d Fulghum 129f 166 145 141 123 120 120 117 104 113 109 104 104 103 103 101 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 S S S M T S M M S S S M T S M S E L E E L E M E E E M E M E L M 2+ 1 2+ 3+ 4- 2- 3+ 3- 3 + 3 3 + 2+ 3 4- 2 72 13 81 A. sativa var. mutica 32i 168 Fulghum 257a Nebraska 21 280a 92 151 36 53 63 59 68 53 A. sativa var. mutica 43c 13 Burt 67n 149 Early Champion 197a 114 Burt 125 99 Burt 253a 101 Burt 74k 90 Turkish Rustproof 267a Burt 175a 65 68 111 148 141 94 Abundance 269a 92 Richland 320a 36 A. sativa var. aristata 35g 15 Sixty Day 223a 20 a Height symbols: T=tall; S=short; M = medium. b Maturity symbols: E=early; M = midseason; L = late. c Scale indicating resistance to stem rust: = immunity; 1 = extreme resistance; 3 = moderate susceptibility; 4 = extreme susceptibility. d Rank refers to the order of the variety in point of yield among more than 200 varieties under test. 14 University of California — Experiment Station The fifteen best yielding varieties at Salinas in Monterey County include eight varieties of the arid-oat group and seven of common white-oat group. Fulghum and Burt of the arid-oat group are out- standing, and Nebraska, Early Champion, and Richland, of the common-oat group, indicate good possibilities. Early oats are plainly in the preferred class. These five early oats and all others producing well at Salinas are short to medium in height and possess small narrow leaves and small to medium-sized culms or straw. These varieties are primarily grown for grain, but because of the fineness of the straw and leaves an excellent quality of hay may be produced. None of these varieties were included in the fifteen best yielders at Eureka. TABLE 4 The Best- Yielding Varieties at Eureka Compared with the Same Varieties at Salinas Varieties Eureka Bu. per acre Rank Height Maturity Stem rust Salinas Bu. per acre Rank Scottish Chief 124E Canadian R1192 Avena strigosa Schreb. 113e North Finnish C1002 Tartarian King 113d Avena brevis Roth. 134d Red Algerian C286 Avena sativa nigra 70g North Finnish 123e Received unnamed A. sterilis 28k Black Mesdag 117e Kherson C1021 Avena sativa var. mutica 43c Avena strigosa 29j Avena sativa var. aristata 35g 273 214 208 200 191 180 180 177 175 162 152 151 151 150 148 4 3+ 3- 4 3- 3+ 4- 3+ 4 3 3- 4- 3 4- 65 11 71 60 60 90 66 67 120 51 101 62 137 29 174 101 69 67 168 57 55 5 93 15 In table 4 only two early varieties appear and these not of the very earliest sorts. The midseason varieties predominate. These varieties usually possess medium to large culms and medium to large leaves with possibilities for heavy production of hay or ensilage. Many of them possess stiff culms resistant to lodging, which makes them very desirable when vetch is grown with oats. It is noteworthy that two only of the Salinas group were found in the fifteen best yielders of the Eureka group and that these two varieties were low in the yield order. Only one variety of the arid- oat group, Red Algerian, was included in the best Eureka varieties. Only one short-strawed variety is included. The rest are tall or Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 15 medium in height and all possess medium or large leaves. Varieties of the tallest and most upright of all oats, the side or banner oat (Avena orientalis) are conspicuous for their absence. This group of oats is undoubtedly unfit for California conditions even in such a favorable locality as Eureka. Although a severe attack of stem rust occurred in 1920 when these tests were made, none of the rust-resistant varieties were in- cluded in the best yielders at Eureka, where all the best yielders were highly susceptible. At Salinas the best-yielding varieties sus- tained only a light attack because of their inherent early maturity. Some thrifty mid-season and early varieties and one or two varie- ties of Avena sterilis are adapted to Eureka conditions. At Salinas only early-maturing oats stood at the top. The best of the early oats was the Fulghum variety of the arid-region group, A. byzantina. VARIETAL SELECTION BY YIELD TESTS From the large number of varieties of oats grown under test and observation at the sub-stations of the University of California and in experimental plots in the counties, it became apparent that a very restricted number of varieties offered promise for California. As determined in the qualitative experiments just referred to, the larger number of promising varieties were found to be included in the red- oat group (Avena byzantina). Some of the early-maturing better- yielding varieties of the white or yellow-oat group (A. sativa) (8) and hybrids between varieties of these groups were included. In selecting varieties of oats, yield tests, superior qualities, and regional adaptation were given first consideration. In general, a suit- able variety of oats for California conditions must mature early in order to avoid the early spring drought, which often occurs as early as March. High temperatures in the spring months over the greater part of the state are very antagonistic to many of the varieties which thrive in the eastern and northern states. The varieties of oats which gave promise in the qualitative studies were planted under the replicated rod-row method for yield tests. 3 The results of these tests at the University Farm at Davis, at the Agronomy substation at Kearney Park in Fresno County, and at the Imperial Valley Experiment Station at Meloland, appear in tabular form, the yields under rod-row method of yield test first, followed by the more restricted replicated % ~ acre plot method. 3 In rod-row and % -acre tests five replications are used in all experiments. 16 University of California — Experiment Station For many reasons, such as rust susceptibility, lodging, shattering, and late maturity, some varieties were dropped before the full period of tests was completed. Replicated Bod-Row Tests with Oats at the University Farm, Davis. — The yields of varieties in the replicated rod-row tests at Davis are given in table 5. TABLE 5 Yield of Oats in Rod-Bow Tests at the University Farm, Davis, California Average of five replications in bushels per acre. Variety 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 KanotaK5179 46 46 5 40.8 47.7 28.0 59.0 57.0 89.4 60.4 52.2 44.0 47.4 66.7 61.5 63.1 57.0 53.8 66.0 48.1 57.4 85.4 66.8 66.2 77.6 41.8 86.0 72.8 67.8 66.6 65.0 94.0 62.2 52.6 72.9 51 6 78.6 109.9 105.8 120.2 98.3 57.7 72.9 75.7 78.3 56.7 87.4 92.7 78.9 104.3 28.5 87.8 82.8 90.2 110.2 89.5 115.3 116.7 88.2 72.1 90.0 106.1 80.5 100.6 87.9 76.6 79.2 67.9 45.0 Sunrise 2-C8 Sunrise 38-C8 (Buddah) . . . Cowra X Sunrise 40-C6 Glenn Innes 4-C8 Lachlan 8-C9. . White Ligowa-Algerian X White Tartarian 28-C8 Richland 281a 46.0 Richland 320a 24.0 35.4 Abyssinian 303a 53.3 Fulghum 257a 70.0 57.7 41.3 33.3 Nebraska 280a 21.5 California Red C1003 14.0 Kherson Selection 10-C8 Kherson Selection 12-C8 Kherson Selection 16-C8 . 13.6 22.0 22.5 15 3 22.8 45.0 41.3 37.2 28.2 22.0 75.6 79.0 69.6 40.4 80.4 64.8 77.4 55.8 76.8 76 120.2 Cornellian Empire Standwell Cowra No. 34 27.9 43.6 20.2 59.8 29.2 507 66.5 41.9 35.4 46.3 48.1 58.2 90.0 Wilga Glen Innes No. 7 29.5 57.0 22 3 34 3 24.7 37.0 34 42 Cowra No. 33 Myall Cowra No. 35 Burt 175a 68.3 34 In addition to the varieties reported in table 5 the following stem- rust-resistant but late, poorly-adapted varieties were tested and at once rejected : Rurakura, White Russian, Tartarian, Improved Snoma Winter C 1016, Sparrowbill, and White Tartarian. (11) Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 17 H H N •< ►i. rz 5 S' 3 O c- & ps p (D p a p cr o re c n ?r c c o rr o n -d M -1 p D- c o •3 i? 2 o' ps 5 PB pc O < o' >1 p X P cr < c i Q a pa o < P << S' c_ + ■< O 3^ P 3 3 — a ps c p 3 3 ~ < *».OtO>*^>*«. H-H-ffH-H-K-H-H-FfH-H-H-H- MHMtOMtOMMMMMCOOl Oi 00 N M ® * Cn Olfflt0010!0!-J00*s)010>00 to a vi w a m » O Ol OitOOOCi000000005tOOO>**. K-hfhfH-H-hfH-H-hF-H-H-H-hf WtO^MtoMftOltOUivlWM to Ol Ol »i to 00 Cn at 00 Qt to CO 00 to o o Oi O OO Cn -J *- to ^«jcos!oswtoooto(ioato H-H-H-H-H-H-FfH-H-H-hhK-H- 00 to Cn OJ - *. Cn *. cr- CO 00 to >**■ » to © » CO |fk -~J -vj O 00 O CO •— h-totototototo tn M o I + O OO s s w o> o »«*• o ^i to H to CO w *t CO Cn CO 00 to CO to to co co oo cn co o •^ ►3 > < a CD H W is w w GO a hj o Ma <1 th g M ec H hi W o cn 5' § t-3 W W n § f P H 18 University of California — Experiment Station Several varieties were dropped and many new ones added, but the yields of all were subjected to statistical methods and included in table 5 for the comparative values of the varieties. Those varieties which proved sufficiently valuable for continued tests over the four or five-year period were placed in table 6, where each variety is compared in yield with California Red — the variety now almost exclusively grown over the state. Student's method (9) of comparison was employed in these calculations. The yields of many varieties show rather high probable error due in a large measure to morning glory (Convolvulus arvensis) in spots over all fields at Davis. The varieties appearing significantly superior in yield to California Red in these rod-row tests include White Ligowa- Algerian X White Tartarian 28-C 8, Lachlan 8-C 9, and Cowra X Sunrise 40-C 6. (No yield is considered significant unless the odds are greater than 30:1). Some other varieties showed some superiority in yield but not sufficient to be significant. A longer period of time may show decided preference for these varieties, for the odds in favor increase rapidly as the number of years of trial increase. The varieties showing superiority appear in the following order : Fulghum, Cowra X Sunrise 40-C 6, White Ligowa-Algerian X White Tartarian 28-C 8 (fig. 3) and Kanota (fig. 2). Yields of Oats in y 50 -acre Replicated Plots. — Selections of the most promising varieties from those surviving from rod-row replicated tests were grown in % -acre plots replicated five times. The results of these tests appear in table 7. In these % -acre replications Sunrise, Fulghum, and Glen Innes show significant superiority. TABLE 7 Yields of Oats in % -Acre Plots at Davis, California Average of five replications in bushels per acre. Variety 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 Z a Odds California Red C1003 103.1 102.8 32.4 29.2 32.8 43.7 43.7 35.5 29.3 55 1 67.6 46.1 72.7 68.4 63.3 41.7 79.7 62.5 64.4 Fulghum 257a 2.07 • -1.07 2.63 5.47 1.22 - .58 1.10 137:1 3:1 Sunrise 2-C8 134.4 110.9 131.3 100.7 61.3 53 1 72.3 67.2 314:1 Glen Innes 4-C8 51:1 Wh. Lig. Alx. X Wh. Tart. 28-C8 . 15:1 Richland 320a 2:1 71.9 37.5 68.0 64.0 3:1 Cowra 34 Wilga 64.2 a Z column gives a statistical measure of the value of each variety as compared with California Red Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 19 Yield of Oats at Kearney Park, Fresno County. — Tests with rod rows and replicated %o- acre plots were made at the agronomy sub- station at Kearney Park, eleven miles west of Fresno. The side oats (Avena orient alis) and most of the white oats (A. sativa) plainly indicated their lack of adaptability during the rod- row tests of 1922 and were discontinued. The remainder of the varieties were continued, and from them the best were selected for further tests. The rod-row plots for the 1925 crop were badly affected by a rise of black alkali which rendered the comparative yields value- less, hence no harvest was made for this year. This is unfortunate, for an additional year beyond the third is distinctly important in determining real differences in yields. The comparative yields obtained are shown in table 8. The most promising varieties of oats were tested further in repli- cated % -acre plots with the results indicated in table 9. TABLE 8 Comparative Yields of Oats in Kod-Eow Tests at Kearney Park Average of five replications in bushels per acre. Variety 1922 1923 1924 Z a Odds Sunrise 2-C8 51 9±5.09 b 45 3±4.77 36.6±3.05 45.5±6.35 41.0±2.33 56.9±123 42.0±4.91 45 2±4.63 55.3±4.16 46.8±1.88 45.7±2.14 54 3±4 57 52 7±3.89 54.4±4.84 51 9±5.09 47.9±2.40 47.9=J=2.40 48.7±4.70 44.4±4.80 55 9±5.26 41.1±2.12 47.8±2.53 46.8±2.50 66.1=b5.15 71.7±5.07 71.4=h6.24 45 5=1=3.60 43.7±2.86 44.3±2.90 44.7±2.93 55.3±2.53 58.3±3.20 53.3±2.92 48.3±2.82 +20.90 - 0.98 - 121 - 0.35 + 0.95 + 1.21 + 1.26 - 0.63 + 045 + 0.63 + 0.65 + 1.02 + 1.16 + 1.31 + 0.78 + 0.18 + 0.78 - 50 61 9^1 Sunrise 38-C8 3.0 3 5 1.5 2.8 3 5 3.6 2.1 17 3.3 3.4 5.8 7.2 8.6 4.3 1.4 4.3 2.6 1 Cowra X Sunrise 40-C8 1 Glen Innes 4-C8 1 Lachlan 8-C9 1 Wh Lig Alg X Wh Tart 28-C8 1 Kherson Selection 10-C8 1 Kherson Selection 12-C8 1 Kherson Selection 16-C8 1 Richland 281a.. . lll.li 3.64 103. 9± 6 41 94. 9± 4.65 82. 6± 8 30 64. 1± 3.74 1 Richland 320a . 1 1 Fulghum 257a 1 Kanota K5179 1 BurtCl005 1 Burt 175a 73.4±12.64 90. 3± 9 73 35. 8± 2.44 32. 8± 5 99 1 Nebraska 21 280a 44 7±3.55 13 9±1 14 49 1±3.36 1 California Red C1003 a Z column gives a statistical measure of the value of each variety as compared with California Red. b The symbols ± signify probable error (PE) limitations above + or below — the average figures. 20 University of California — Experiment Station TABLE 9 Comparative Varietal Yields of Oats in % -Acre Plots at Kearney Park Average of five replications in bushels per acre. Variety 1922 1923 1924 1925 Z a Odds California Red C1003 105.7 83.5 54 5 127.9 63.1 126.2 88.7 153.1 115.5 123.7 150.3 149 9 128.7 150.0 41.9 30 33.9 46.7 61.9 33.5 Richland 320a -0.50 -2.09 4-0.58 -1.44 -0.08 +059 4-6.6 4-2 96 3.44 19 Fulghum 257a 607 38.4 4.30 Burt 175a 10 3 Nebraska 21 280a 1.10 Kanota K5179 2.05 Wh Lig Alg X Wh. Tart. 28-C8 38.6 46.1 78.2 73.6 19 6 Sunrise 2-C8 .. 8.64 a Z column gives a statistical measure of the value of each variety as compared with California Red. Yield of Oats at the Imperial Valley Experiment Station. — The Imperial Valley Experiment Station represents the desert regions of the southeastern portions of California lying east of the Coast Range and south of the Tehachapi Pass in Kern County. Cereals are grown usually under irrigation in this region. Here the main object of oat culture is the making of cereal hay. The production of plump seed for feeding purposes is very difficult. The tests in the % -acre replicated plots are given in table 10. TABLE 10. Yields of Oats in 1£ -Acre Plots at the Imperial Valley Experiment Station Average of five replications in bushels per acre. Variety 1923 1924 1925 Z b Odds California Red C1003 43.2=fc .88 c 35.3zfcl.44 39.2=fc4.18 32.6±3.19 54.6=1= .97 42.7=!= .54 43.5±162 44.9i2.09 33. 8=fc .47 35.9=fcl.l5 30.8=1=3.08 28.0±28 17.3=b.l7 19.6=fc.l4 29.4=fc.l9 32.2zfc.29 30.1=fc.24 21.7=fc.l4 Richland 320a -0.51 -2.7 -1.17 -0.67 -0.80 — 172 2.65:1 Fulghum 257a a 31.2:1 Kanota K5179 a 7 45:1 Wh Lig Alg X Wh Tart. 28-C8 2 18:1 Lachlan 8-C9 2.51:1 5.01:1 Nebraska 21 280a 42.8=fc2.42 18.2±2.79 35.2=fc3.26 a Ripened much earlier than the rest and were subject to shattering from overripe grain. b Z column gives a statistical measure of the values of each variety as compared with California Red. c The symbols zfc signify probable error (PE) limitations above + or below — the average figures. The tests in the replicated % ~ acre plots indicate that the Ful- ghum variety after allowing for shattering is superior to the other Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 21 varieties tested, maturing 10 to 12 days earlier than California Red and most of the others. Early maturity exposed Fulghum and Kanota to heavy wind shattering while awaiting the maturing and harvest of the other later varieties. The low yields of Fulghum and Kanota in these tests are due directly to this cause. Tests conducted else- where indicate that these varieties are no more susceptible to wind shattering than the varieties competing with them in these tests. Yields of Oats in Several Counties. — Local adaptation always plays an important role in the selection of varieties. To determine this point, selected sets were sent to farm advisors and others for rod-row tests. The yield of these oats appear in table 11. As was anticipated, a wide range of adaptive selections appeared, Two general sets of conditions exist: first, the moist coastal regions north of the Santa Barbara Channel where many white oats yielded good returns; and second, interior areas away from the influence of the moist coastal climate. For the latter regions, especially south of San Francisco Bay, the Kanota and Fulghum varieties appear to good advantage owing to the early maturity and avoidance of the worst effects of drought and heat. In the cooler damper coastal region many white oat varieties stand at the top in yield. In Humboldt County where rainfall is heavy many of the common white oats lead in yield. In Alameda and Marin counties these white oats compete success- fully with the best early varieties, including Lachlan, Kanota, Ful- ghum, arid Sunrise 2-C 8. In Marin County the Joanette, a heavy- yielding hay oat adapted to humid northern conditions, outyielded other sorts. It is, however, a black oat and therefore not attractive. Kherson, a favored variety for the Mississippi Valley corn belt, also yielded well. The common variety of the region, California Red, out- yielded all others, but as will be shown later, its large percentage of hulls reduced its actual yield in feed value. In the moist peaty delta region of San Joaquin County, Fulghum, Lachland, and Richland 320a headed the list in the order given. The ability to withstand lodging and to escape or withstand stem rust enabled these varieties to outyield their competitors. The behavior of these varieties under stem-rust attack was shown in table 2. In San Luis Obispo County west of Paso Robles where oats were tested for two years, Sunrise 2-C 8 was outstanding in yield, but two white-oat varieties, Abyssinian and Richland 320a, closely approached it in yield, followed by Cowra X Sunrise 40-C 6. This order appeared consistently during two seasons. <» -; 00 ■a c3 05 co O O) o io co t^ ■* CM oo (O 115 OO : t>. -p*< an Lui spoCc oRob 1925 pq S3 lO CO kO OO O0 OS Tt< (M H IO CM CO CO O ^h : iO 00 co o o ^c* oo »*H CC W 't ^ ■* o h s n n : iO S io t^ «* >o co CO CM CO CM »o CO CM -* IO •* : f No5 1 • to !• JJ 3 _ <* CO oo <* -H CO »0 CO CM t^. CM CO O OO : a n a San Lui Obispo Cc Paso Rob 1924 ~ ~ ""* " PH .H CM ph PQ S3 a CM CO PH CO O CO IN Tf O CO O ■>* 00 oo : -pj< iO t— !P _H O IO W N CO N N NK5 a <# 'jl i C5 CM CO oo SO t»- co CO ->*l CM CO CO t^ IO Tt< »o ^ lO : iO CM CM c -^ oaqui o.— ddle ver, 923 c t^. ■* ^H eq CO CO CM CO O tc m h : uo 00 CO CO t^ : °° 1 « *" " ^ ^ PH «<->£«- W a ec CO t^ r^ t^ 1^ 1-^ t— co O : CO o t^ : i N : I r~ CO CM ^H CD 1-H CM i-H t^ h- t^ t^i : ■«*< w a n o I t^- : o3 00 e> IO CO «"**«•* US W CO : iO CM "<*l iO ::"*:: 44 a -* CO CO cc C-J t^ m cm o -"** ph 00 CB CO IO l~- CO O »H : co o '3 c3 03 PH PH CM •ph CM CO tf «""l PQ S3 a as o o C co •>* r~- o co CO PH -^H Oi OS ph CO co -p»< I « — : £ e t^- th c CO ■* N M [^ M to •* a i« 6 ># tO 115 T(i : : 00 : : 7 d UJ lO «* CO ■* ^ (O M M CO CM CO CM CO CM CO CO :;**;: ^ O 03 CC OS r- cr co O ■* CC N U) ph IO -*t< CO CM CO OO O ph ■ 2 G CO P3 03 CM CO S ** PQ S3 a o CM CO •* CO -*i CO CO CM CO O •>* O O0 CM ■<*< CO O O 1 1 o -K Oi CM C4 CO ^H o CM •* UO i-H T»< t^ O CM CO N N N ■ pH C) e> > CO -3 c C-) IB N 15 00 PH T*< CO 53 "S CM w M CM CO • PQ ■""' 00 "9* >* cN o O ^ O O CO CO o oo ,_j TM ^M en N T)l W CO IO ■**< CO 1 6 O U3 co CM CO «3 ■* w oo o a CM iO M< p-i : CO 115 03 53 -a _, « CD S 03 CM CO PQ S3 a CO CO CO PH CO .—I OS CO iO CO -*< ■* O : ph ph 5! ■<* -r -tfl ^H C-) ■»*< os co r~- OO H ^ O : p< hi 00 lO IO t^ t^ t^. 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PQ S3 a CO ■* IO US l~» "5 O O H CM 00 CM CO CO IO ph O CD O i o oo d >o CM r~ r^ OJ N O O! ■* CO IO CO O OS r^ >p>< ph O O : tJ< io - U >> o> CM CM (N Ol CO CM CM CM CM CO CM CO CM CO CM CM CO CM CM : co CM ^ : ': 1 c CO CM ,_, o -c* O N » M ^ ■<*< co io c» O CM O ph lO : t>- 00 : a 53 ph ph ph ph CM CM ph CM o CD 53 PQ S3 a oo pH IO DC ■>*< CO CO OO CO o CO IO OO O0 CO t- O 00 CO i O 00 «o ^H r^ CO iO O OO !D ffl » Ol ■* N CN -l © co io c : 6 N : 1^ -CM i~ CO CO iO »o CO TJ< CO CO CO CO CO CM ■<*< CM CO : co co 2cm c 53 : : j : CM co h : : ■"** lit Ok OO t^ j : j CO O co" "3 CO tf £- : : i i to N n j i ] CM 1 CM I : CM lO CO U5 OS p-< CM EN : i : : co i : : : N PQ 4 _£cm 1 iO CO CM CO 115 W N 00 CO O ph CM ': iO CO f~ (1) cm faDCft >3° Ph PQ S3 a i i i i : : OB PH CO t^ PH CO CO O ph H CM CO K5 N (N IO PH H kC. ■pj< oo CO CM CO OJ CO CO : io CO CO d d oo o ■; ■; : ; S ^ ] i '■■ oo • • • O i i ! ! CM : : : 5 j M : h. Tart 10-C8. 12-C8. 16-C8. Cj : s-^ ! I >> * CO u a> 'C a PC cr C ' (TM : O ! U 2 S eS Wint. 74a .... seed -3 la °E S3 > CO 2 00 CO .1 a 00 oc ! • Wh. Lig. Alg. X W Kherson Selection Kherson Selection Kherson Selection Richland 281a * a s : ': : _J : : 03 os ic§ : oo • « cc 00 .53 noma rian 1 (local an 196 o o PH co HH O §5 5 CO 1 c c a: 3 QQ M rt if o 1 c c C a c u CO s o t Z 5 PC _ p .2 I < Fulghum 25 Kanota K51 Burt C1005 : ph k : CM Cs C3 03 7 io ^ a, Z 2 1 PQ fc p2 a c k c 'E JD ej O Pi ps Improved S White Tarta Coast Black Sixty Day. ... White Russi White Russi Sparrowbill Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 23 In Los Angeles County, Kanota and Fulghum headed the list. Fulghum has consistently outyielded California Red in Los Angeles County in several years of field tests following the initial rod-row plantings. Although the results secured in these areas appear indicative, a period of tests covering four or five years or more is required to fully confirm the selection of a variety by yield test alone. As will be shown later in discussing the quality of the grain and the resistance of varieties to diseases and climate, the selection of the best-adapted varieties falls within the narrow limits of perhaps four varieties : Kanota, (15) or Fulghum, (18) Richland 320a, (3) (20) and Sunrise 2-C8. (14) THE GROATS OR MEATS OF OATS The quality and even the yield of oats as measured in starch produced per acre depends upon the percentage of groats, or meats, contained in the kernel. In presenting the yields of the various varieties of oats tested at the three regular agronomy stations (Davis, Fresno and El Centro), and the tests made in other important oat- growing localities, it was discovered that a number of varieties regu- larly produced higher yields than the common red oat now grown universally over the state. These favorable differences in yield were, however, not materially significant when statistical methods were applied. These varieties were in the main very apparently superior in quality, that is, groat or meat percentage to the common red oat. To ascertain finally the real qualities of the many promising varieties under test the bushel weight or density test was made in triplicate in the usual manner with the Winchester scales. (1) This test was fol- lowed by a more tedious and exacting test to determine the groat percentage. The oats were carefully sampled, five-gram samples hulled by hand, the groats weighed, and percentages calculated (table 16). The determination of the percentage of groats was replicated five times. The calculated probable error in each case is very low, indicat- ing uniformity in the work and marked dependability in the results. Seasonal variation in weather directly effects the filling of grain. In order to ascertain whether the relative varietal comparisons for the percentage of groats would hold for a number of seasons, several of the varieties which were being tested for yield in replicated y 50 - acre plots were also tested for groat percentages over the same period of time. These comparisons appear in table 12. 24 University of California — Experiment Station The groat percentages as they appear in table 12 indicate, as was expected, a variation in close correlation with the weather and soil conditions governing production and filling of kernels on a given year on certain soils. Notes on the percentage of stand show indica- tions of an inverse correlation between thickness of stand and per- centage of groats for a particular sample. Some varieties persistently fill well, while others are more sensitive to environmental conditions as shown in the variations in percentage of groats from year to year. TABLE 12 A Comparison of Groat Percentage for Varieties in % -Acre Plots at Davis, California, 1923-1925 Average of five replications. 1923 1924 1925 Mean Aver- age Variety Per cent Rank Per cent Rank Per cent Rank rank Sunrise 2-C8 69.61d=. 14 a 8 67.42±.65 a 66.81±44 74.73±.57 72.58±19 67.75±07 62.50±69 69.59±14 71 15± 23 6 7 1 2 5 8 4 3 71.03±.46 a 61.80±86 76.15±64 71.76±27 65.33±24 64.45± 46 3 6 1 2 4 5 69.35± 73 a 64.30±1.68 75.28± .29 72.10± .20 68.06± .26 66.86±2.28 69.60± .15 68.97± .99 4 Guyra 8 Fulghum 257a Glen Innes 4-C8 . 74.95±25 71.96±27 71.09±.26 73.60±32 69.62±21 66.79±.39 71.13±36 71.27± 26 1 3 6 2 7 9 5 4 1 2 California Red C1003 Wh.Lig.Alx.XWh.Tart. 28-C8 BurtCl005 6 7 3 Richland 320A 5 Cowra X Sunrise 40-C8. Lachlan4-C9 a The symbols ± signify probable error (PE) limitations above (+) or below (— ) the average figures. Fulghum is an example of persistent plumpness of kernel under. all conditions, while White Ligowa- Algerian X White Tartarian 28- C 8 shows sensitiveness; it may under favorable environment fill well, but under unfavorable environment may not. The common California Red oat apparently cannot fill well in comparison with the best of these varieties. Effect of Unfavorable Climate. — At the Cornell Experiment Station (New York), four oats have been found to be superior in yield and adaptation. (10) These oats were tested at the University Farm at Davis with the results as shown in table 13. These four varieties of oats were rated as midseason in maturity under New York condition, but in comparison with the varieties of oats found to be superior under California conditions all of them rate as late. Because of late maturity more than any other factor these New York oats failed to fill and produce good yields, although possessing other very superior characters, including vigor and resist- ance to lodging and shattering. These varieties under California con- Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 25 ditions yielded plants superior in stature to those grown in New York. The glumes appeared to develop normally, but the storage of starch in the filling of the kernels was arrested. High temperatures and perhaps greater aridity of atmosphere than normally prevails in New York at the maturing period were doubtless the contributing causes to the poor showing of these oats. Lack of moisture was not apparently a factor because the spring of 1925, when these oats matured at Davis, was exceptionally rainy with an abundance of moisture at all times throughout the maturing period (table 19). It is apparent that climatic adaptation is a very impor- tant factor in selecting varieties of oats for any given area. TABLE 13 Effect of Unfavorable Climate upon the Percentage of Groats Grown at Ithaca, N. Y. Grown at Davis, Calif. Varieties Groats, per cent Grams per 100 kernels Groats, per cent Grams per 100 kernels Groats, difference, in percent 72 4d= 37 b 65.2±.37 62.8±52 65.0=b.21 2.577±.93 b 2.486±34 2 398±46 2.181±18 59 7±.30 b 49.5±88 55 9±35 45.4±.59 62 1± 27 1.81±028 b 1.89±020 1.95±.052 2.01±027 2.53±004 12 7 15.7 6.9 19 3 a For comparison only. b The symbols ± signify probable error (PE) limitations above (+) or below (— ) the average figures. Related Values of Oats and Groats. — A large coarse husk and low percentage of groat or meat has caused the California Red oat to be unfavorably received. The relation of oats and groats to yield and to feed values per acre is shown in table 14. These data indicate that three varieties, Cowra X Sunrise 40-C 6, Lachlan 8-C 9, and White Ligowo- Algerian X White Tartarian 28- C 8, are superior to California Red in yield of oats per acre and that nine varieties are superior w r hen the yield of groats per acre is con- sidered. Density of Kernels in Varieties of Oats. — The accepted bushel weight of oats over the United States is 32 pounds and is generally used in calculating bushels per acre w T hen the harvest is measured in pounds. The density of a sample of oats is therefore an important factor. It is officially measured as pounds per bushel. For this pur- pose a standardized fixed volume is filled with oats and the corre- sponding weight per bushel calculated. The bushel weights and the percentage of groats for varieties were determined ; they are given in table 15. 26 University of California — Experiment Station TABLE 14 Related Yields of Oats and Groats in Rod-Kow Tests at Davis, California Average of five replications in bushels per acre. Varieties Oats Bushels per acre 1923 1924 1925 Z b Odds Groats 3 Bushels per acre 1923 1924 1925 Z b Odds California Red C1003 KanotaK5179 Sunrise 2-C8 Sunrise 38-C8 Cowra X Sunrise 40-C6 Glen Innes 4-C8 Lachlan8-C9 Wh. Lig. Alx. X Wh. Tart. 28-C8 Richland 281a Richland 320a Abyssinian 303a Fulghum 257a Nebraska 21 -280a 100. 87. 82. 90. 110. 89. 115. 116.7 82.2 72.1 90.0 106.1 80.5 87.4 72.9 51.6 78.6 109.9 105.8 120.2 98.3 57.7 72.9 75.7 78.3 56.7 52.6 85.4 73.8 67.8 66.6 65.0 94.0 62.2 0.0 0.08 -0.67 —0.17 0.32 -0.26 3 11 0.19 -1.09 -1.81 -0.20 0.62 0.78 0.0 1.22 3.4 1.3 1.8 1.6 40.5 1.40 6.60 -14.9 1.49 3.10 4.30 62.5 64.5 62.5 64.5 74.2 56.3 75.7 75.9 47.2 46 1 57.5 73.1 54.2 54.3 53.6 38.9 56.2 74.1 66.5 78.9 64.0 33.1 47.2 49.4 53.9 38.2 32.7 62.8 50.4 47.3 52.4 26.3 66.5 48.0 33.9 42.5 41 5 64.8 41.9 0.0 1.27 0.6 1.04 4.50 0.11 2.84 2.90 1.25 ■0.60 -0.16 1.05 0.48 0.0 8.37 3.12 6.20 83.0 1.25 34.3 35.6 8 11 3.12 1.40 6 24 2 53 a Bushels of oats and groats per acre calculated by assuming a weight of 32 pounds per bushel each for comparison. b Z column gives a statistical measure of the value of each variety as compared with California Red. In taking the bushel weights given in table 15 three tests were averaged as directed in the official method. (1) The percentage of groats is the average of five replications. The figures, it is believed, accu- rately set forth the percentage of groats and the bushel weight of each variety. A comparison of these two qualities is made by placing the relative rank for each quality with each variety. With some of the varieties little relative variation in rank is found, but with others the rank rises or falls considerably. When the rank of the groat per- centage is compared with that for bushel weight and the former is markedly superior, it may be inferred that this variety has filled well so far as the groat or meat is concerned. On the contrary when the bushel weight rank is markedly superior, the hulls or husks have been developed at the expense of the groat. Such husks when nor- mally and fully developed are usually dense and thick. An example of the former condition is seen in the variety Glen Innes 9, which ranks ninth in percentage of groats and eighteenth in bushel weight. The latter condition is found in Abyssinian 303a, a very thick dense- hulled variety. California Red, the variety commonly grown, retains relatively the same rank for both groats and bushel weight. The per- centage of groats for this variety has been very uniform in all parts of the state over a long period of time. Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 27 e - c ft 5 P- c ■ g_ I c S » < ts SL co O tO 3 2 z C ;s H ^ r c OQ DQ W O S O K 3 3 3 S a S 3 2. 2. O -i £ * n ■ ■ ~ P D O » CO — — ' ^,3 ^ w t3 - ai W to ^ 1 ^ -/- i ^ Oi § s *r Q *. g qS^ p p o P g.| 9 a O I ~jOC5Cn©C:cr:Oi~j>*».oo COCSltOOOi^bOOOOOO^OO^ -^ ~j to to co O CJ1 to oo s O CS O tO tO OC C2 H-H-H-4-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-K-H-H-hfH-hhhhH-H-H-H-H-H-hhH-H- S MMMifk-IIOMCSOKOlSMWSAWtO-KtOtOaiMMMMMeoM I <-i to to to *- *- — CO co o to OO C5 " to *- *- to K *. vj Cn »J 00 CO Si C= Oi S 5 C: »i 5 H 5 ?. ^ C M -J N C S v) o, 5 - - t, c: J. » *. n *> n ^ »OM»MW»J»10iNS>"»MSi^M(B^»JXI»*tOWOlOlCStO O5tO(^CD^J«rfkH-^JcO^C>C5ltnCOiO(*».tOCiCC00CO--J>*».O5«*^5OCn^|H- H-H-H-H-H-ffH-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H- — to © Si to — to — CO OD O CO — tO fc- tO-MtOMtOtOtOM * 2 — oo a c s e - o | g £j Cn M Oi I*' Si CO co en co -o. Oil CO © CO Si eitstoao-cio H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-K-H-H-H-K-H-H-H-lf'H-H-H- "— *- CO ►— — CO*>. — 0OSitOtO>*».tOtO>— to — — CO ►— >— i— > h- to _ _ - cc to to o to to i— >*>• ^4 tO O ^JSiSi©.*«.©OC©oo MtOi-WtOMtOM to CO CO OO H-H-tt-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H- ©©©©©©©©©©©©o©© -"i-oi*t;totoi o o o © _ * to to Oi MO)MSWtO*tO ©©©©©©©©© * c to u to Si to to o tvOid.*.vl(00£K^ cc *. — --< COCOCO*.COCOCOCOCOC04».>&.4i. OOift0ffiSlNQ0S!CO3M ^"^^^^^ £ £ K « O 00 93 *> 'JO Si © CO a m cr 3T 2. = 28 University of California — Experiment Station Yields of Varieties Based on Percentage of Groats. — It is largely the starch, fat, and protein and certainly not the crude fiber con- tained in the attached hulls, in which the purchaser of feed is inter- ested. In selecting desirable varieties of oats it is necessary then to take into account the actual quantity of available nutrients contained in the kernels. In order to determine the value of each variety in actual yield of free kernels per acre the data in table 16 was assembled. TABLE 16 Varietal Yields of Groats in Rod-Bow Tests at Davis, California, 1925 Average of five replications in pounds per acre. Variety California Red C1003 Cornellian Empire Standwell Comewell Cowra No. 34 Wilga Glen Innes No. 7 Guyra Glen Innes No. 8 Quandong Glen Innes No. 9 Yarrin Cowra No. 33 Myall Cowra No. 35 KanotaK5179 Sunrise 2-C8 Sunrise 38-C8 Cowra X Sunrise 40-C Glen Innes 4-C8 Lachlan8-C9 Wh. Lig. Alg. X Wh. Tart. 28-C8 Richland 281a Richland 320a Abyssinian 303a Ftrtghum 257a Nebraska 2 l-280a Markton2043 Coast Black ? Oats Pounds ,683. 2=b 78. 4 a ,321.6±121.6 ,190.4± 83.2 902. 4± 76.8 704. 0=b 57.6 ,419. 2=b 80.0 ,528. 0=b 64.0 ,227. 2=b 64.0 ,292. 8± 73. ,572. 8± 83. ,073.6±112. ,476. 8=b 32. ,785. 6=b 70. ,457.6=bl02. ,432.0±131 ,846.4±192.0 ,732.8±108.8 ,137.6± 99 2 ,118.4±236.8 ,483.2±162.3 ,337. 6=b 83.2 ,752.0±194.2 ,361.6±192.0 ,169.6± 99.2 ,131. 2=b 70 4 ,080. 0=b 54.4 ,008.0±147.2 ,990. 4± 83.2 ,440. 0± 44.8 729. 6=b 57.6 Rank Groats Per cent Pounds Rank 67.3 67.6 59.2 71.4 64.3 67.9 73.5 75 5 715 67.4 67.9 65.7 65 1 57.4 63.9 58.7 68.9 67.4 60.2 58.6 1,045 789. 589. 384. 319. 1,296. 1,577. 1,441 761. 1,770. 1,495. 1,674. 1,057. 1,754. 1,571 2,611. 2,008. 1,613. 1,514 1,673. 908 1,808 1,537 1,262 1,361 1,178 2,072 1,341 415.8 Groats, per cent of California Red 100 75.5 56 3 36.8 30.5 124.6 159 1 137.8 72.8 169.3 143.8 160.2 1011 167.8 1504 249.8 192 1 154.4 144.9 160.1 86.9 172.9 147.1 120.8 130.2 112.7 198.3 128.3 82.9 39 8 The symbols ± signify probable error (PE) limitations above (+) or below (— ) the average figures. The Selection of the Best-Yielding Variety. — It has been shown in table 7 that yield tests in the replicated % -acre plots with several superior-yielding oats, indicated a slight superiority in yield for a limited number of varieties, but that none of these yields stood out significantly over the limited period covered by the tests, when statis- Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 29 tical methods were applied. The analyses of the percentage of groats in varieties of oats has been shown previously (table 16) to con- stitute the determining factor in selecting for actual yield in food values. The varieties of oats tested in the replicated % " acr e plots for a period of three years were subjected to a similar analysis in table 17. TABLE 17 Eelative Values of Varietal Yields of Oats and of Groats in % -Acre Plots at Davis, California, 1923-1925 Average of five replications. Variety California Bod Cl003 a Fulghum 257a Sunrise 2-C8 Wh. Lig. Alg. X Wh. Tart. 28-C8 Guyra b Glen Innes 4-C8 Oats, pounds per acre 2,178 ld=36 3 c 2,409. 6± 99 2,218. 7±22. 6 2,139.7±73.5 2,057. 6±53. 9 2,307. 2=fc 5.7 Compari- son by per cent 100.0 110.6 101.8 98.2 94 5 105.9 Groats, pounds per acre 1,483.9± 95. 4 C 1,814.0± 17.5 1,549. 9± 47 9 1,438.0±149 6 1,315.1±103.4 1,438. 0± 14.8 Groats, per cent of California Red 100 122 104 4 96.9 a California Red was used as a basis for comparison because it is the commonly grown variety of the state. b Yields of 1924 and 1925 only. c The symbols ± signify probable error (PE) limitations above (+) or below (— ) the average figures. In the comparative tests presented in table 17 two varieties, Ful- ghum and Sunrise 2-C 8, show superiority in yield over other oats. These yields are not significantly superior over the three-year period. If the same relative rate of yield were continued for four or five years, only Sunrise would show marked significant difference in oat yield. When the yield of groats per acre is examined, however. Fulghum shows markedly superior yields in these tests. (5) Size of Oats in Relation to Yield and Bushel Weight. — Large size in oat kernels has frequently been thought to influence yield. To determine the effectiveness of this factor, the comparative yields of oats and groats, the bushel weight, and the size by weight of the kernel for each variety is given in table 15. The size of the kernel as measured by its weight is not an indica- tion of its bushel weight or ability to yield groats. The high bushel weight depends rather upon the ability of the variety to fill well, which in turn is indicated usually by high groat percentage rather than the size of the kernel. The size of the kernel, therefore, appears to be a poor indicator of the yield of groats per acre, with the exception of Fulghum, Glen Innes 8, and Cowra 33. The percentage of groats and bushel weight 30 University of California — Experiment Station appear rather closely correlated. The size of the kernel and the weight and thickness of the hulls are directly correlated, but it appears that these qualities do not correlate with high yields of either oats or groats. If this is the case, then the kernels of high-yielding oats are not of necessity large, nor do they require especially large or thick hulls to protect them from the adverse climatic conditions prevailing in the Sacramento Valley and regions in the state with similar climatic conditions. Kernels of medium size, plump, and with medium heavy hulls are found in the best-yielding varieties. The varieties which have yielded highest in groats or meats per acre include Cowra 35, Fulghum 257a, Kanota K 5179, Lachlan 8-C 9, and Glen Innes 8. Kanota, Fulghum, and Glen Innes 8 have been found to fully meet the requirements of the millers for manufacture into human food, fortunately combining quality and yield in the same varieties. MATURITY IN RELATION TO YIELD Early maturity is essential in oats grown in all parts of California. In all except the extreme northwestern area, early maturity greatly assists in avoiding the early spring droughts and high temperatures which usually appear at the beginning of May when the rainy season is practically over. Many years of tests with late varieties in all the representative oat regions of California have resulted in the rejecting of all late or midseason varieties. After rejecting many varieties for lateness, rust susceptibility, excessive shattering, poor color, and low yields, those remaining for yield test are classed for maturity in table 18. In the group of varieties in table 18 no late-maturing oats appeared, but six midseason varieties were included because their yield records elsewhere were very high. In spite of possessing in- heritance for high yields, these midseason varieties were unable to fill well under the climatic conditions prevailing at Davis. Apparently the temperatures were too high during the period in which these mid- season varieties were maturing. The period of maturity has evidently been very much shortened for the latest varieties, since these matured in the shortest period of time after the heads or panicles appeared. The first panicles for the late varieties did not appear before May 3 and completely matured on or before June 18. The varieties Cor- nellian, Empire, Comewell, and Standwell produce well in New York (10) and the regions similarly situated. Markton (16) has proved Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 31 3 ? << «< > > > < < < -t -t -I p p p TO TO TO 3 S < P P m KOHOOg » § 3 § § s; P< 2 B' re ^ S- < I re S M 2 o o p o E 3 W 2 W *! ^ 3 ?r a p 55 tO > Q ^ ^ co. t-i r 1 jr CO CO O W o o o re" re" 9 >-« m 5! e a o o a 3 3 £5 4 H C p p a to g CO , -' « co 3 co 3 g t> > p TJ "O «) ^ jo p p £0 << << << << «**.*.tOOCO h *».CO co o to a> o to O) (O M to oo p p *d § § g g g g p p p p p p <<; <<5 v; v; vj v; to to to h- to to Cn * » (O M O ^p3ppppjojflpppT3 M H-» CO re *ij g g re «< << Ol -J O) ch e_i ch e_i e_i c_ C C a a 3 C O 3 a S S 3 re re re re re re M >) 1^ CO W H ggggggggggg p£Dp£DpPPP^'PP pppppppppppp to to CO ^J ^4 ^J O O ^J -J ^l CO a a g re re " l-- CO c_| Ch c_ c_, c_< Ch a a a a a a a a a a a a re re re re re re ChChChChChChCh=-I«-I«-I«-I«-( aaaaaaaaaeaa aaaaaaaaaaaa rererererererererererere Ch c_, Ch Ch Ch a a a a a g g g g g g g p p p << << <<: O ^J Ol » * W *k * *k M to a a a a a <^ ^ o* <-* rerererere^^^" CO co CO co co to to to h m p-iH-^-H-ooco re^ Ol C71 *4 *J O O) oo co co en os to ^.COO^JI—H-I— OOCn 05---J-^IOiOiOi* en co to 3^ 32 University of California — Experiment Station to be an excellent variety for eastern Oregon and Washington. Coast Black (6) has been established in the coastal region of California for a long time. These varieties are found to be the lowest in percentage of groats (table 15), although Love and Craig (10) in New York found midseason oats superior to early oats. Early -maturing varieties precede the midseason group and appear in a well-defined maturity period varying from first heading on April 13 to complete maturity by June 10. The latest of these varie- ties classed as early is the California Red (Texas Red, etc.). The Lachlan 8-C 9 is with difficulty separated from the very early group. Included with it at the earlier range of this list are the varieties White Ligowa- Algerian X White Tartarian 28-C 8, Guyra, and Yarran. The very early group of oats is set apart because it is very readily separated from the general group of early oats as established in table 18. The earliest heading variety in this group (Quandong) began to head April 6, seven days earlier than the earliest variety in the 'early' group and 27 days earlier than the earliest in the midseason group. The earliest maturing variety in the 'very early' group ('Sunrise 2-C 8) matured seven days ahead of the earliest maturing variety in the 'early group' and 15 days earlier than Markton, the earliest variety in the 'midseason' group. The average dates for each maturity period appear in table 19. The twelve very early varieties comprise eight of the highest- yielding varieties, including the three at the top. The six midseason varieties include six of the seven lowest yielders. It is very evident from an inspection of table 18 why this occurs. There is found to be no difference in the length of the heading period between the very early and midseason groups, but in the maturing period a difference of five days occurs. From heading to maturity the very early group consumes 13 days more than the midseason group. The experiments with these varieties in the field indicate that the later-maturing varie- ties suffer very markedly from high temperatures as compared with the earlier varieties. During the whole maturing period (1925) the soil was very moist because of late rains in May, so that a lack of moisture could not have accounted for the adverse effect. Many of the varieties suffering in yield fill well and consume a much longer period in maturing in regions where the temperatures are lower and more favorable. The very early varieties, maturing on the average by May 31, completed their ripening under favorable temperatures while later varieties were forced to fill under higher and more un- favorable temperatures as is shown in table 19. Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 33 TABLE 19 Daily Temperatures and Rainfall at Davis, California, from April 1 to ♦ June 15, 1925 (University Farm records during maturity period.) Day of A pril May June month Max- imum Min- imum Mean Rain- fall Max- imum Min- imum Mean Rain- fall Max- imum Min- imum Mean Rain- fall 1 59 61 61 53 61 64 65 71 69 67 72 74 80 81 77 68 61 58 65 60 68 63 65 72 78 82 94 78 65 72 42 49 47 47 47 42 42 47 42 53 49 48 48 58 51 46 44 50 45 35 40 38 39 47 45 44 43 45 42 44 50 55 54 50 54 53 53 59 55 60 60 61 64 69 64 57 52 54 55 47 54 50 52 59 61 63 68 61 52 58 83 86 89 88 84 82 76 73 66 65 72 58 69 76 72 72 69 77 72 47 50 46 44 44 44 39 44 48 49 51 62 48 52 52 53 52 55 48 65 68 67 66 64 63 57 58 57 57 61 55 58 64 62 62 60 66 60 72 71 70 75 77 83 86 89 84 88 95 92 92 82 82 49 50 45 50 45 47 41 47 45 48 54 55 50 46 54 60 60 57 62 61 65 68 68 64 68 74 73 71 64 70 2 0.22 1.52 3 4 01 5 01 6 7 8 9 10 0.10 0.20 tr. 0.08 0.84 22 11 12 13 14 15 tr. 16 17 11 tr. 18 0.14 09 19 20 21 84 83 78 87 91 87 81 84 76 67 72 50 52 45 48 53 49 49 50 44 51 52 67 67 61 67 72 68 65 67 60 59 62 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 RESISTANCE TO SHATTERING Shattering of oats after maturity and before the combined har- vester cuts and threshes them is one of the serious obstacles to oat production. In the eastern states and in the smaller coastal valleys oats are cut with the binder while yet somewhat immature (dough stage) and the straw and glumes tough. The binder is not an econom- ical machine in the interior grain areas because the bundles dry out rapidly and with every additional handling, much grain is lost. The combined harvester is a much more efficient and more econom- ical machine when it can be used. In certain areas where shattering 34 University of California — Experiment Station is common and severe, fields of oats are cut just as they mature and while still somewhat green and tough. The header from the com- bined harvester is attached to a specially prepared truck upon which a gasoline engine is mounted. This equipment drawn by a tractor may run night and day leaving the harvested oats in narrow wind- rows. After ten days to two weeks, the windrows are picked up and threshed by attaching a 'pick-up' equipment in place of the regular header. Weeds, which frequently interfere with good threshing, are dried out and are readily separated. No variety of commercial oats has been found which is markedly resistant to shattering. The difference in yield of oats before and after a severe three-day 'norther' is shown in table 20. TABLE 20 Besistance to Shattering on Oats in Kod-Kow Tests at Davis, 1924 Average of three replications in grams per row; one row of each set harvested at maturity and an adjacent row of each set harvested after severe wind shatter- ing. Variety Sunrise 38-C8 Cowra X Sunrise 40-C6 Glen Innes 4-C8 Lachlan8-C9 Wh. Lig. Alg. X Wh. Tart. 28-C8 Kherson Selection 10-C8 Kherson Selection 12-C8 Kherson Selection 16-C8 Richland 281a Richland 320a Abyssinian 303a Fulghum 257a KanotaK5179 BurtCl005 Nebraska 280a California Red C1003 Sunrise 2-C8 Before shattering 1st 2nd 3rd set set set 542 646 679 609 563 486 670 368 570 507 507 455 384 332 679 373 491 623 565 668 513 514 403 471 240 304 363 395 365 362 271 330 177 289 590 478 572 447 406 370 523 313 289 338 348 334 393 302 386 After shattering 1st 2nd 3rd set set set 70 98 206 189 231 265 116 150 96 30 67 87 69 116 85 177 77 55 121 108 184 176 134 73 116 99 43 45 41 50 60 92 117 45 128 170 80 176 221 186 74 92 115 27 100 75 70 94 85 183 Total before shat- tering 1,180 1,755 1,689 1,959 1,569 1,483 1,259 1,664 921 1,163 1,208 1,250 1,154 1,139 905 1,395 550 Total after shat- tering 153 389 394 549 628 585 263 358 310 100 212 202 189 320 262 477 122 Resist- ance rank Per cent lost 87.00 77.84 76.68 71.98 59.98 60.56 79.12 78.49 66.34 91.40 82.45 73.84 83.63 71.91 71.05 65.80 77.82 The losses from wind shattering are shown to be severe, ranging from 60.0 to 91.4 per cent. These extremely heavy losses occurred, however, in fields of fully mature oats similarly exposed. Studies are being made of many varieties with the hope of securing a resistant one which could be used for breeding of varieties resistant to shat- tering. Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 35 MILLING OF OATS The California Red oat is inferior in milling quality, and its continued production in the state led to the temporary abandonment of two mills constructed for preparing oats for human food. The lack of a suitable milling variety adapted to California conditions has necessitated the importation of milled-oat products from Wash- ington and Iowa and elsewhere. The California Red oat is grown largely for hay, and to a lesser extent for local feed. Only rarely are the better-filled lots of this variety used for milling, because of the heavy husks, dark color, long heavy hairs on the groats, double grains in the spikelet, and low percentage of groats. Coast Black is equally unsuitable for milling. On the other hand, the new varieties, Kanota, Fulghum, and Lachlan, have proved acceptable to millers of oats. • TABLE 21 Milling Value of Oats Grown in Iowa and California Variety Grown, 1925 Bushel, weight Weight, 100 seeds, grams Groats, per cent Ames, Iowa Ames, Iowa Ames, Iowa Ames, Iowa Ames, Iowa Ames, Iowa Ames, Iowa Ames, Iowa Davis, Cal. Davis, Cal. 38^ 39 40 34^ 37 41H 33 39H 42 37 2 767±.044 2.713±071 2.157=b.022 1.936±047 2.233±.054 2.182± 049 2.419=fc.057 2.497±059 3.106±064 3.287±.052 71.05±66 Swedish Select 71.61db.33 75.32±36 Iowar a Iowa No. 103 Albion a 75.47±26 75.61d= 31 Iowa No. 105 (Richland) a 75.69=1=. 19 73.35±97 75.56±26 75.60±03 64 40±05 A selection of Kherson or Sixty Day oats. The varieties analyzed were grown in Iowa and are checked with California-grown oats, including Fulghum, a variety acceptable to the manufacturer, and California Red, an undesirable variety. The best types include Kherson, Iowar, (3) Green Russian/ 8 - 20) and Ful- ghum/ 15 - 17 > 18 > 19) The quality of a variety is expressed in high bushel weight and high percentage of groats. The size of the oat as measured by weight of the kernel is not so important, for both large and small sizes are found in the desirable varieties. It is important that the oats be free from double grains, that the color of the groat be light, and its husks thin and small, but of high groat percentage. 36 University of California — Experiment Station DISCUSSION OF VARIETAL ADAPTATION Wild Oats. — Because of their habit of shattering on the approach of maturity, wild oats leave abundant seed on the ground to continue themselves. Summer fallowing- when well done reduces them materially, but even when all the volunteer plants are destroyed by cultivation- new volunteer plants may come np from seed held dormant in the soil from preceding crops. Oat seed deeply buried may not germinate until it is again brought to the surface by later cultivations. In many areas where summer-fallowed land contains wild oats in excess, fall seeding is delayed until the wild oats have thoroughly sprouted. The land is then cultivated by means of duck- foot, disk, or chisel-tooth cultivators. If the weather is foggy or rainy, many wild oat seedlings survive and resprout even when dragged by the tooth harrows. Although wild oats are a pest in grain fields, in hilly or waste pasture lands or in volunteer fields they are valuable for pasturage. Large quantities of wild oat hay are put up and sold regularly to the markets. On account of the weeds which usually grow in volunteer or waste fields, wild oat hay is classed as one of the poorest of mar- ketable hays. The following figures represent the average hay prices for a five-year period (Jan. 1, 1921 to Dec. 26, 1925), compiled from the San Francisco Market Reports in the Pacific Rural Press : Wheat hay, No. 1 to choice, ton $18.00 to $20.00 Wheat hay, fair grade 16.00 to 18.00 Tame oat hay, medium to choice 18.00 to 20.00 Barley hay 14.00 to 17.00 Wild oat hay 14.00 to 17.00 Alfalfa hay, No. 1 to choice 16.00 to 19.00 The quantity and quality of wild oat hay decreases as cultivation is withheld. Fields which have long been out of cultivation produce wild oats usually fit for pasture only. The common wild oat (Avena fatua) is the principal species in the cultivated areas. The slender wild oat (A. barbata) and the arid- region wild oat (A. sterilis) are more frequently found in pastures and untilled fields, especially in hilly areas of the Coast Range. (7) Cultivated wild types of oats, the hairy oat (A. strigosa) and the short oat (A. brevis), {4:) have both produced large quantities of very excellent fine-straw hay and good yields of fairly plump seed. Under certain conditions these two oats might be grown to advantage in the coastal regions from Monterey Bay northward, either as cultivated Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 37 or wild oats, because of their superior hay qualities over the common wild oat. % Side or Banner Oats (Avena oriental-is). — The side oat or horse mane oat is adapted only to areas of cool moist summers, because it matures very late. No area in California is suited to it because of the rainless summers even in the cool coastal areas. The side oat grows very tall, frequently over seven feet, with large coarse leaves and stalks. Its ability to withstand lodging- and its high production of fodder make the best varieties of this oat suitable for growing with vetch for hay or ensilage. Sparrowbill, Black Tartarian, and Storm King were tested, but everywhere the production of grain was very poor. Midseason Oats. — When climatic conditions are favorable, mid- season and late oats have shown superior yields, but in California no area except the extreme northwest favors them. In New York midseason oats like Cornellian, Standwell, Comewell, and Empire head the list. (10) Midseason varieties yield best in Iowa, (3) Wisconsin, (8) and North Dakota. (20) A similar condition is found in Washington on the Pacific Coast, where Abundance, Banner and Markton (16) produce well. None of the midseason varieties appear capable of producing the best grain crops in California. Many of them yield good crops of oat hay, but it is usually too coarse to meet the exacting requirements of the California oat-hay markets. The best midseason varieties for California include the Sixty Day, North Finnish, and Black Mesdag. Early Oats. — A variety of oat suited to maintain itself in Califor- nia must, for climatic adaptation, be early to very early in maturity. It must be a dual-purpose oat, producing not only a good grain crop but also a good crop of fine-textured hay. Among the early varieties is the Burt, a variety yielding well in the Mississippi Valley. Good yields have been reported in California, but its gray-colored seed and coarse-textured hay caused it to drop out of production. The Kherson, like the Sixty Day, has produced good grain and hay, but because of the superior performance of good varieties matur- ing earlier it has not been able to compete successfully. The Kherson oat and the Sixty Day oat are considered identical. (4) It is a variety with many variations. Selections have been made resulting in many excellent varieties including Iowar, Albion (Iowa No. 103), Richland (Iowa No. 105), Kherson Selection 12-C 8, and Kherson Selection 16-C 8. The three latter varieties have given promise in many Cali- fornia areas. 38 University of California — Experiment Station The California Bed and Coast Black Oat Group. — A number of varieties of Red Rustproof or Algerian type proved promising but not superior to our common California Red oat, which is perhaps only a strain of the Red Algerian oat. (19) This oat, because of its superior resistance to heat and drought and consistent performance, has in the past been able to drive out all other types. The hay from this variety is so well known that any new variety must directly compete with it in the quality and color of hay, size of straw and leaf. Any variety replacing it must be superior in the quantity and certainty of yield. The coarse heavy husk of the grain, low yields, and stem- rust susceptibility are its principal defects. Its steady performance under adverse conditions of heat and drought have enabled the Cali- fornia Red to maintain itself in almost exclusive possession of the field until the Kanota and Fulghum varieties were introduced. The Coast Black oat has become established in the central coastal counties due to good yields of ha}^ and pasturage and some resistance to stem rust. It is a black oat with coarse hulls of the winter type of late maturity. New types of oats appear very superior and should replace it. Crosses Between the Arid-Begion Oat (Avena byzantina) and White Oats (A. sativa) . — The superior behavior of the arid-region oats led to trials of crosses between it and the common white oat type. A number of these varieties of Australian origin (14) were tested. 4 Although all of the Australian oats classify botanically as Avena sativa, or common oat, all possess the desirable characters of the A. byzantina, or arid-region oats. Some of them, such as the Sunrise 2-C 8, show superiority over California Red in earliness and yield but not in groat percentage. Others, such as the Lachlan 8-C 9 and Glen Innes No. 8, appear superior for coastal and north interior regions, while White Ligowa-Algerian X White Tartarian 28-C 8 may be found superior under harsh interior conditions. Superior white-oat types, including Cowra 35 and Cowra 33, give promise of producing good yields of high quality both in grain and hay. Richland 320a ('fig. 3) (a selection of Kherson) is the only stem- rust resistant oat which may be considered for any California area. It is a yellow oat, resistant to lodging and somewhat resistant to shat- tering, producing high-class hay. It fails as a dual-purpose oat by producing yields of grain somewhat too low. It is being used in breed- ing for superior varieties resistant to stem rust and lodging. * These oats were secured from Professor J. T. Pridham, Experiment Farm, Cowra, New South Wales, Australia. a*) Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 39 Fig. 2.— Plot on left, California Red C 1003 ; plot on right, Kanota K 5179. Kanota is here considerably taller than California Red. Imperial Valley Station. ""«*-£& Fig. 3.— Plot on left, White Ligowa- Algerian X White Tartarian 28-C8; plot on right, Richland 320a, an erect, lodging-resistant, stem-rust-immune yellow oat. 40 University of California — Experiment Station Kanota and California Red Compared. — Kanota oats is a selection of Fulghum made by the Kansas College of Agriculture (15) in 1916. Fulghum oats originated on the farm of J. A. Fulghum, Warrenton, Georgia, (18) and was probably a selection of Red Rustproof (Califor- nia Red) (fig. 4). At present there are certain variations or off -type plants found in Kanota oats secured from the Kansas Pure Seed Association for California planting, indicating perhaps a hybrid origin. Many strains of Fulghum oats have been selected, but there appear to be no differences between them in yield or field behavior. (17) For all practical purposes Kanota and Fulghum oats may be con- sidered as one variety. (21) The Kanota belongs to the arid or red-oat group (Avena oyzan- tina). It is therefore closely associated with the California or Texas Red oat with which it is competing. In maturity Kanota is about ten days earlier under California conditions. This period may vary from 7 to 14 days due to climatic and regional conditions. This advantage in maturity enables Kanota to escape early spring drought and early spring heat, both of which cause serious depression in yields of oats. Kanota and California Red are both very susceptible to stem-rust attack, but due to the late appearance of this form of stem rust, Kanota frequently escapes serious injury. California Red has been found susceptible to both hidden smut (Ustilago levis K and S) and loose smut (Ustilago avenae Pers.) ; Kanota, on the other hand, is but slightly attacked by either smut. In the field Kanota is usually smut free, so that seed treatment for smut control (12) is not advised. (15) Early maturity of Kanota permits later planting. Very early fall planting does not adversely affect its yield but appears to assist in better filling of the kernels. Under California conditions Kanota has usually proved 4 to 10 inches taller than California Red (fig. 2). The only exception occurs when the maturing period is cool and moisture abundant. It is ready to cut for hay earlier than other common varieties, affording a longer period for the hay harvest. Kanota plants are very erect from the seedling stage. The straw is fine but not quite so dark red in color as California Red. The head or panicle differs but little from California Red (fig. 4). It has only occasional weak awns on the first kernel while California Red is heavily awned over the whole panicle. Under normal or favorable circumstances Kanota produces three plump short kernels per spikelet while but two are found with California Red. No bristles appear Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 41 at the base of the Kanota kernel, separating- it from most other Avena byzantina varieties. The qualities and performance records of the two varieties at Davis are given in table 22. The evident superiority of Kanota over California Red has led the California Pure Seed Association to adopt it for certification to California farmers. The comparative performance records secured Fig. 4. — A, Panicle and spikelet of California Red C1003; B, panicle and spikelet of Kanota K 5179. over many years at the substations of the University of California and on selected farms in cooperation with farm advisors and others indicate that the Kanota variety may replace with profit to the farmer the common California Red oat now universally grown in the state. 42 University of California — Experiment Station In addition to the favorable yield records reported in the pre- ceding pages, favorable performance was recorded at Chico. (5) In Monterey County Fulghnm or Kanota (Fulghum) has repeatedly outyielded competitors. In Los Angeles County, Fulghum, which out- yielded all varieties in the rod-row tests, outyielded California Red fully 75 per cent. In the Imperial Valley tests, Fulghum and Kanota have proved superior. The same records prevail in Fresno and Solano counties and other areas where these oats have been grown in com- petition. TABLE 22 Comparison of Kanota and California Red Oats Kanota California Red Stem rust Susceptible but escaping Susceptible Loose and hidden smut First headed April 10 April 28 Fully headed April 25 May 15 First ripe May 17 Fully ripe Heading Maturing 15 16 53 62 3 Light red to dark on coast Absent or occasional weak 73. 5± 47 85.4±3.37 62.8±2.48 2.89±.031 43 17 7 Heading to fully ripe Height, inches 43 64 2 Color of grain Awns or beards Red to dark red Strong 62. 1± .27 Yield of grain, bu. per A 52 6±3.24 32. 7± .002 2.53± .004 34^ PROBLEMS IN OAT IMPROVEMENT A number of improvements are necessary before the production of oats in California can reach a satisfactory condition. Stem rust is a constant menace to both hay and grain. Breeding for stem-rust resistant varieties is in progress. Resistance to smuts must be com- bined with other qualities. Lodging frequently causes heavy losses. Shattering from winds during the delay between maturity and har- vesting, especially when the combined harvester is used, reduces the yields and restricts the extension of oat production. The color of the red-oat varieties now grown is objectionable to both feeders and millers of oats. The most important quality to the farmer is consistent high yield. An increase in yields may be expected from the superior-yielding Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 43 varieties already secured or by new ones being created or otherwise obtained. Varieties with high yielding capacity will not overcome poor soil, poor cultural practices, or poor seed, but availability of high-yielding varieties should stimulate better practices in oat pro- duction. DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY 1. Oats in California, as in other states, are not a high-priced crop, but because oats grow in poorer soils and under harder conditions, profitable crops may be grown when wheat and barley would fail. 2. Oats are grown principally for hay, for feeding to work stock, and for seed. Considerable quantities of seed oats, mainly Texas Red, are imported into the state. Much of this seed is rejected each year because of contamination with Johnson grass seed. 3. Increase in the acreage of oats has been slower than wheat and barley, but oats have maintained their acreage better. 4. Six distinct climatic areas with respect to the production of oats exist: (1) northwestern, (2) central coast, (3) south coast, (4) northeastern, (5) interior valley, and (6) southeastern. The regions with the highest rainfall and coolest summers are best adapted to oats. 5. Oats are sown under annual or continuous cropping more gen- erally than wheat or barley because of superior hardiness and because much of the crop is cut for hay. Summer fallowing the land gives better crops, but oats on very rich soils or on bean or alfalfa land may lodge badly and produce a poor quality of hay and grain. 6. Oats should be sown early in the fall for best crops of hay or grain. 7. The filling of the oats as expressed in the plumpness of the groat, or meat, is favorably affected by varietal adaptation and early seeding. 8. The density of the grain as expressed in bushel weight is affected by the varietal inheritance and to a lesser extent by the size and density of the husk. 9. The yield of oats in pounds or bushels of grain per acre is misleading. The actual yield of starch and other digestible nutrients in the form of groats or meats per acre is the true measure. Prices and demands for oats are directly connected with the percentage of groats in oats. 10. The Kanota (Fulghum) variety is markedly superior in per- centage of groats and yield per acre to California Red oats, the best oat grown in the state previously. 44 University of California — Experiment Station 11. Half of the oat grain crop is fed on the farm but large quan- tities of oat hay are shipped to the large cities. 12. Oats are one of the best feeds for young growing stock and poultry. Improved quality in oats (i.e., increased percentage of groats and reduced hulls) will increase the demand for oats. 13. Shattering at harvest seriously restricts oat production, especially in the interior valleys. All varieties of oats tested shatter, but some varieties show partial resistance. Breeding to improve this defect is under way. 14. Lodging causes loss in oats, but varieties resistant to lodging have been found. These varieties are not adapted to California but may be used to breed lodging resistance into susceptible varieties. 15. Kanota, Fulghum, Sunrise, and other early varieties are rust escaping because of earliness, and Richland is stem-rust immune but does not yield as well as some earlier varieties. Breeding for better varieties resistant to stem rust is in progress. 16. Only two species of oats include varieties well adapted to Cali- fornia: common or white oats (Avena sativa) and the arid-region oat (A. byzantina). 17. Early maturity is the determining factor in the selection of a variety best adapted to the state, for only very early maturing varieties have consistently remained at the top in yield tests. This condition prevails not only in the central valleys but in the extremes of the state in the Imperial Valley and in Humboldt County. ^ 18. Kanota and Fulghum are so highly resistant to loose and cov- ered smut that seed treatment is not necessary. 19. Kanota, producing excellent hay and a high yield of groats per acre, appears to be the best variety tested for adaptation to gen- eral conditions. Kanota has been selected by the California Pure Seed Association for certification. Bul. 467] Oat Varieties in California 45 LITERATURE CITED i Boerner, E. G., and E. H. Bopes 1922. The test weight of grain: A simple method of determining the accu- racy of the testing apparatus. U. S. Dept. Agr. Dept. Bul. 1065: 1-11. 2 Briggs, L. J., and H. L. Shantz 1914. Relative water requirements of plants. Jour. Agr. Res. 3:1-64, 3 Burnett, L. C, T. R. Stanton, and C. W. Warburton 1925. Improved oat varieties for the corn belt. U. S. Dept. Agr. Dept. Bul. 1343:1-29. 4 Etheridge, W. C. 1916. Classification of cultivated varieties of oats. Cornell Agr. Exp. Sta. Mem. 10:125-163. s Florell, V. H. 1923. Cereal experiments at Chico, California. U. S. Dept. Agr. Dept. Bul. 1172:1-30. e Hendry, Geo. W. 1925. Cereal hay production in California. California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 394:1-71. 7 Jepson, Willis Linn 1925. A manual of the flowering plants of California, p. 1-110. Sather Gate Book Shop, Berkeley, California. s Leith, B. D., and E. J. Delwiche 1922. Wisconsin oats. Wisconsin Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 340:1-30. 9 Love, H. H., and A. M. Brunson 1924. Student's method of interpreting paired experiments. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron. 16:60-67. io Love, H. H., and W. T. Craig 1925. Results of experiments with oats in New York. Cornell Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 436:1-21. ii Mackie, W. W., and Ruth F. Allen 1924. The resistance of oat varieties to stem rust. Jour. Agr. Res. 28: 705-719. 12 Mackie, W. W., and Fred N. Briggs 1923. Fungicidal dusts for the control of bunt. California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 364:533-567. 46 University of California — Experiment Station is McAdie, Alexander G. 1903. Climatology of California. U. S. Dept. Agr. Weather Bui. L: 5-123. 14 Pridham, J. T. 1921. Varieties of oats tested in New South Wales. Agr. Gaz. N. S. W. 32:249-252. is Salmon, S. C, and John H. Parker 1921. Kanota: an early oat for Kansas. Kansas Agr. Exp. Sta. Cir. 91: 1-13. is Schafer, E. G., E. P. Gaines, and O. E. Barbee 1923. Washington oats. Washington Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 179:1-29. 17 Stapler, L. J. 1925. Fulghum oats for Missouri. Missouri Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 229:1-19. is Stanton, T. E. 1921. Fulghum oats. U. S. Dept. Agr. Dept. Cir. 193:1-13. 19 Stanton, T. R. 1925. Oat improvement in the western half of the United States. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron. 17:640-641. 20 Stoa, Theodore E. 1922. Varietal trials with oats in North Dakota. North Dakota Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 164:1-47. 21 WlGGANS, EOY GLENN 1925. Variations within and between morphological varieties of oats and barley. Cornell Agr. Exp. Sta. Mem. 94:1-35. STATION PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION BULLETINS No. No. 253. Irrigation and Soil Conditions in the 397. Sierra Nevada Foothills, California. 262. Citrus Diseases of Florida and Cuba - 398. Compared with those of California. 400. 263. Size Grades for Ripe Olives. 402. 268. Growing and Grafting Olive Seedlings 405. 277. Sudan Grass. 406. 278. Grain Sorghums. 407. 279. Irrigation of Rice in California. 283. The Olive Insects of California. 304. A Study of the Effects of Freezes on 408. Citrus in California. 409. 310. Plum Pollination. 313. Pruning Young Deciduous Fruit Trees. 328. Prune Growing in California. 410. 331. Phylloxera-resistant Stocks. 335. Cocoanut Meal as a Feed for Dairy Cows and Other Livestock. 411. 343. Cheese Pests and Their Control. 344. Cold Storage as an Aid to the Mar- 412. keting of Plums, a Progress Report. 346. Almond Pollination. 347. The Control of Red Spiders in Decid- 414. uous Orchards. 348. Pruning Young Olive Trees. 415. 349. A Study of Sidedraft and Tractor 416. Hitches. 350. Agriculture in Cut-Over Redwood 418. Lands. 354. Results of Rice Experiments in 1922. 419. 357. A Self-Mixing Dusting Machine for Applying Dry Insecticides and Fun- 420. gicides. 361. Preliminary Yield Tables for Second- 421. Growth Redwood. 423. 362. Dust and the Tractor Engine. 363. The Pruning of Citrus Trees in Cali- 424. fornia. 364. Fungicidal Dusts for the Control of 425. Bunt. 426. 365. Avocado Culture in California. 366. Turkish Tobacco Culture, Curing, 427. and Marketing. 367. Methods of Harvesting and Irrigation 428. in Relation to Moldy Walnuts. 368. Bacterial Decomposition of Olives During Pickling. 429. 369. Comparison of Woods for Butter 430. Boxes. 431. 870. Factors Influencing the Development of Internal Browning of the Yellow 432. Newton Apple. 371. The Relative Cost of Yarding Small 433. and Large Timber. 373. Pear Pollination. 434. 377. The Cold Storage of Pears. 380. Growth of Eucalyptus in California 435. Plantations. 385. Pollination of the Sweet Cherry. 386. Pruning Bearing Deciduous Fruit Trees. 436. 387. Fig Smut. 888. The Principles and Practice of Sun- 438. Drying Fruit. 389. Berseem or Egyptian Clover. 439. 390. Harvesting and Packing Grapes in California. 391. Machines for Coating Seed Wheat with Copper Carbonate Dust. 392. Fruit Juice Concentrates. 440. 393. Crop Sequences at Davis. 394. I. Cereal Hay Production in Cali- fornia. II. Feeding Trials with 442. Cereal Hays. 443. 395. Bark Diseases of Citrus Trees in Cali- fornia. 444. 396. The Mat Bean, Phaseolus Aconitifo- lius. 445. Manufacture of Roquefort Type Cheese from Goat's Milk. Orchard Heating in California. The Utilization of Surplus Plums. The Codling Moth in Walnuts. Citrus Culture in Central California. Stationary Spray Plants in California. Yield, Stand, and Volume Tables for White Fir in the California Pine Region. Alternaria Rot of Lemons. The Digestibility of Certain Fruit By- products as Determined for Rumi- nants. Part I. Dried Orange Pulp and Raisin Pulp. Factors Influencing the Quality of Fresh Asparagus after it is Har- vested. Paradichlorobenzene as a Soil Fumi- gant. A Study of the Relative Value of Cer- tain Root Crops and Salmon Oil as Sources of Vitamin A for Poultry. Planting and Thinning Distances for Deciduous Fruit Trees. The Tractor on California Farms. Culture of the Oriental Persimmon in California. A Study of Various Rations for Fin- ishing Range Calves as Baby Beeves. Economic Aspects of the Cantaloupe Industry. Rice and Rice By-Products as Feeds for Fattening Swine. Beef Cattle Feeding Trials, 1921-24. Apricots (Series on California Crops and Prices). The Relation of Rate of Maturity to Egg Production. Apple Growing in California. Apple Pollination Studies in fornia. The Value of Orange Pulp for Production. The Relation of Maturity of fornia Plums to Shipping Dessert Quality. Economic Status of the Grape Industry. Range Grasses of California. Raisin By-Products and Bean Screen- ings as Feeds for Fattening Lambs. Some Economic Problems Involved in the Pooling of Fruit. Power Requirements of Electrically Driven Manufacturing Equipment. Investigations on the Use of Fruits in Ice Cream and Ices. The Problem of Securing Closei Relationship Between Agricultural Development and Irrigation Con- struction. I. The Kadota Fig. II. Kadota Fig Products. Grafting Affinities with Special Refer- ence to Plums. The Digestibility of Certain Fruit By- Products as Determined for Rumi- nants. Part II. Dried Pineapple Pulp, Dried Lemon Pulp, and Dried Olive Pulp. The Feeding Value of Raisins and Dairy By-Products for Growing and Fattening Swine. Laboratory Tests of Orchard Heaters. Standardization and Improvement of California Butter. Series on California Crops and Prices: Beans. Economic Aspects of the Apple In- dustry. Cali- Milk Cali- and No. 446. 447. 448. 449. 450. 451. 452. 453. 454. No. 87. 115. 117. 127. 129. 164. 166. 178. 202. 203. 209. 212. 215. 232. 238. 239. 240. 241. 243. 244. 245. 248. 249. 250. 252. 253. 255. 257. 258. 259. 261. 262. 263. 265. BULLETINS- The Asparagus Industry in California. The Method of Determining the Clean Weights of Individual Fleeces of Wool. Farmers' Purchase Agreement for Deep Well Pumps. Economic Aspects of the Watermelon Industry. Irrigation Investigations with Field Crops at Davis, and at Delhi, Cali- fornia. Studies Preliminary to the Establish- ment of a Series of Fertilizer Trials in a Bearing Citrus Grove. Economic Aspects of the Pear In- dustry. Series on California Crops and Prices: Almonds. Rice Experiments in Sacramento Val- ley, 1922-1927. (Continued) No. 455. Reclamation of the Fresno Type of Black-Alkali Soil. Yield, Stand and Volume Tables for Red Fir in California. Series on California Crops and Prices: Oranges. Factors Influencing Percentage Calf Crop in Range Herds. 459. Economic Aspects of the Fresh Plum Industry. Series on California Crops and Prices : Lemons. Series on California Crops and Prices: Economic Aspects of the Beef Cattle Industry. Prune Supply and Price Situation. Series on California Crops and Prices: Grapefruit. Drainage in the Sacramento Valley Rice Fields. 456. 457. 458. 460. 461. 462. 463. 464. Alfalfa. Grafting Vinifera Vineyards. The selection and Cost of a Small Pumping Plant. House Fumigation. The control of Citrus Insects. Small Fruit Culture in California. The County Farm Bureau. The Packing of Apples in California. County Organization for Rural Fire Control. Peat as a Manure Substitute. The Function of the Farm Bureau. Salvaging Rain-Damaged Prunes. Feeding Dairy Cows in California. Harvesting and Handling California Cherries for Eastern Shipment. The Apricot in California. Harvesting and Handling Apricots and Plums for Eastern Shipment. Harvesting and Handling California Pears for Eastern Shipment. Harvesting and Handling California Peaches for Eastern Shipment. Marmalade Juice and Jelly Juice from Citrus Fruits. Central Wire Bracing for Fruit Trees. Vine Pruning Systems. Some Common Errors in Vine Prun- ing and Their Remedies. Replacing Missing Vines. Measurement of Irrigation Water on the Farm. Support for Vines. Vineyard Plans. Leguminous Plants as Organic Fer- tilizers in California Agriculture. The Small-Seeded Horse Bean (Vicia faba var. minor). Thinning Deciduous Fruits. Pear By-Products. Sewing Grain Sacks. Cabbage Production in California. Tomato Production in California. Plant Disease and Pest Control. CIRCULARS No. 266. 267. 269. 270. 273. 276. 277. 278. 279. 282. 284. 287. 288. 289. 290. 292. 293. 294. 295. 296. 298. 300. 301. 302. 304. 305. 307. 308. 309. 310. 311. 312. 313. 314. Analyzing the Citrus Orchard by Means of Simple Tree Records. The Tendency of Tractors to Rise in Front; Causes and Remedies. An Orchard Brush Burner. A Farm Septic Tank. Saving the Gophered Citrus Tree. Home Canning. Head, Cane and Cordon Pruning of Vines. Olive Pickling in Mediterranean Countries. The Preparation and Refining of Olive Oil in Southern Europe. Prevention of Insect Attack on Stored Grain. The Almond in California. Potato Production in California. Phylloxera Resistant Vineyards. Oak Fungus in Orchard Trees. The Tangier Pea. Alkali Soils. The Basis of Grape Standardization. Propagation of Deciduous Fruits. Growing Head Lettuce in California. Control of the California Ground Squirrel. Possibilities and Limitations of Coop- erative Marketing. Coccidiosis of Chickens. Buckeye Poisoning of the Honey Bee. The Sugar Beet in California. Drainage on the Farm. Liming the Soil. American Foulbrood and Its Control Cantaloupe Production in California. Fruit Tree and Orchard Judging. The Operation of the Bacteriological Laboratory for Dairy Plants. The Improvement of Quality in Figs. Principles Governing the Choice, Op- eration and Care of Small Irrigation Pumping Plants. Fruit Juices and Fruit Juice Beverages. Termites and Termite Damage. The publications listed above may be had by addressing College of Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley, California. 12ra-4,'29