text:
Specific Work Instructions: Cereal Crop Inspection Procedures
Table of Contents
- Date
- Contact
- Review
- Endorsement
- Distribution
- 0.0 Introduction
- 1.0 Scope
- 2.0 References
- 3.0 Definitions
- 4.0 Specific Instruction Procedures
- 4.1 Assessment of Application for Crop Inspection
- 4.2 Inspection Requirements
- 4.3 Crop Inspection
- 4.4 Completion of the Report of Seed Crop Inspection
- Appendices
This version of the Cereal Crop Inspection Procedures was issued April 15, 2005.
The contact for this Seed Program Specific Work Instruction (SWI) is the Chief, Import and Domestic Office, Seed Section.
This Seed Program Specific Work Instructions (SWI) is subject to periodic review. Amendments will be issued to ensure the SWI continues to meet current needs.
This Seed Program Specific Work Instruction is hereby approved.
Director, Plant Production Division
The most up to date version of this document will be maintained on the CFIA Internet site. In addition, the signed original will be maintained by the National Manager, Seed Section.
0.0 Introduction
The purpose of pedigreed seed crop inspection is to provide a third party unbiased inspection and completion of a report for the Canadian Seed Growers' Association (CSGA) on the isolation, condition, and purity of the crop. It is the inspector's responsibility to describe the crop as observed at the time of inspection.
1.0 Scope
This Seed Program Specific Work Instruction (SWI) outlines the procedures that an official crop inspector will follow in inspecting wheat, barley, oats, triticale, and rye crops for pedigreed status. These crop inspection procedures provide CSGA with assurance that production has been measured against the requirements for varietal purity and crop standards as specified by the CSGA's Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production (Circular 6).
2.0 References
The publications referred to in the development of this SWI are those identified in SPRA 111, QSP 142.1 Pedigreed Seed Crop Inspection Procedure, CSGA's Circular 6 Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production, and Rogues and Roguing.
In addition the following were used:
- Fehr, Walter, R., Principles of Cultivar Development, Volume 2, Crop Species, London, 1987.
- Stoskopf, Neal, C., Cereal Grain Crops, Virginia, 1985.
- Hervey-Murray, C. G., The Identification of Cereal Varieties
- http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3-156.html
3.0 Definitions
For the purposes of this SWI, the definitions given in SPRA 101 and the following apply:
- Aleurone
- Granular protein in the outermost layer of endosperm of many seeds or cereal grains. Colour variation is used to distinguish barley varieties.
- Anthesis
- The flowering stage when the anthers burst, pollen is shed and the stigma is ready to receive the dispersed pollen.
- Anthocyanin
- Pigment ranging from red to violet to blue.
- Awns
- Conspicuous prolongations of the glumes or lemmas.
- Chaff
- Fragments of straw including the glume and hull removed from cereal grains in threshing or processing.
- Circular 6
- Canadian Seed Growers' Association Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production.
- Fatuoid
- A common mutant found in oat crops and may be called a false wild oat. It usually has heavier protruding black awns distinguishable at maturity.
- Floret
- The stamens, pistils and lodiculae enclosed by the lemma and palea.
- Glabrous
- Having no projections or pubescence.
- Glume
- Two bracts found at the base of a grass or cereal spikelet.
- Hull
- The outer covering of a seed made up of the lemma and palea which may be removed freely as in wheat, or adhere as in hulled barley.
- Hulless
- A seed which has no outer covering or has an outer covering which is easily removed.
- Inflorescence
- The head of cereal crops consisting of flowers grouped on a central axis, the rachis.
- Lemma
- The lower or dorsal bract of the spikelet enclosing the seed. In wheat, it is readily removed with threshing, but may adhere in hulled barley and oats.
- Monoecious
- Having male and female reproductive organs borne on a single plant.
- Nodes
- The point on a stem from which leaves, shoots, or flowers grow.
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
- Off-types
- Plants in a seed field which deviate in one or more characteristics from the official description of the variety.
- Open-pollination
- The process by which pollen is transferred from plant to plant either by wind or insects.
- Palea
- Along with the lemma, forms two bracts that enclose the reproductive organs to comprise a floret.
- Panicle
- The inflorescence of oats consisting of a main stem with branches and sub-branches arising from a central axis.
- Pollination
- The process by which pollen is transferred from the anther (male part of a flower) to the stigmatic surface of the pistil (female part of a flower).
- Rachilla
- The axis of the spikelet that bears the florets.
- Rachis
- An extension of the stem on which the spikelets are found.
- Speltoid
- Common mutants in wheat crops. They can appear in a number of different forms, the most common and readily visible being the "tall late". This speltoid is taller and later than normal for the variety. The heads are longer and thinner with a distinct taper from base to tip. The glumes are strongly keeled with a square shoulder and generally are stiff and cannot be bent away from the spikelet without breaking. Speltoids tend to be self eliminating because they are late maturing, hard to thresh, small seeded and often have low fertility.
- Supernumerary Spikelets
- Certain wheat and triticale varieties produce a large proportion of ears with supernumerary spikelets. These extra spikelets arise from the nodes below and at right angles to the normal spikelets. These spikelets vary in size and development. In varieties which produce many supernumerary spikelets, the ears look ragged or untidy because the normal neat alternate arrangement of spikelets is confused by these extra spikelets arising at random up the length of the ear.
- Variant
- Any seed or plant which (a) is distinct within the variety but occurs naturally within the variety, (b) is stable and predictable with a degree of reliability compared to other varieties of the same kind, within known tolerances and, (c) was originally part of the variety as released. It is not an off-type.
- Variety Description
- A detailed listing of the characteristics used as the basis for identifying each cereal variety.
- Variety Name
- Name of the variety as established by the owner/breeder of the seed and as documented in the registration of the variety or on record with the CSGA for varieties of species not required to be registered.
- Volunteer Plants
- Unwanted plants growing from residual seeds from the previous crop or replanted crop.
4.0 Specific Inspection Procedures
4.1 Assessment of Application for Crop Inspection
The inspector must review the submitted application and/or preprinted forms. If any required information is missing, or if any additional information is required, the applicant should be contacted to ensure that all necessary information is present before commencing inspection of the crop.
As outlined in the Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production, the land use and/or isolation requirements have been increased for some cereal varieties. There is at least one barley variety which has increased isolation distances. Therefore, it is critical that the description of variety is checked and the application be assessed for previous land use to identify the potential for volunteer plants.
4.2 Inspection Requirements
Each crop will require one inspection. Inspections must be performed between the time of heading through to maturity. Crops which are not inspected at the ideal growth stage for determining varietal purity may be declined.
The procedures for pedigreed seed crop inspection provided in QSP 142.1 must be used.
The inspector is responsible for reviewing the varietal description to become familiar with the characteristics of the variety and the allowable variants. For cereal varieties grown for grain and thus requiring registration, the variety descriptions are obtainable through the Product Registration System.
All wheat, barley, oats, triticale and rye can be grown for forage purposes. When growing cereal crops for forages, wheat and barley are the only two cereals for which variety registration is required, and thus it is only for these two that variety descriptions are available through PRS. For forage type oats, triticale, and rye which do not require variety registration when being grown for forage, variety descriptions are obtainable from the CSGA, or from the breeder or seed distributing company.
The inspector should refer to Appendix V for general descriptions of cereal species to assist in varietal identification.
4.3 Crop Inspection
Before starting the inspection, the inspector should ensure that s/he is at the right location. Information from the application including the maps should be verified with the field site.
The crop should be walked according to the predetermined travel pattern noting the isolation distance, condition and varietal purity of the crop, presence of noxious or difficult-to-separate weeds or other crops, and presence of disease. Areas of potential sources of contamination such as water runs, field grain bins, roadways, and manure pits should be examined closely. As a minimum, six counts per crop are required to be taken along the predetermined travel pattern so as to give the best representation of the crop.
4.4 Completion of the Report of Seed Crop Inspection
The preprinted Report of Seed Crop Inspection (CFIA/ACIA 1115) form is to be completed for crop inspection using the rough notes taken during the crop inspection. If a preprinted form is not available and a blank form is to be used, the inspector must state the reason for this in the Comments section.
The Report of Seed Crop Inspection must be completed fully, accurately and legibly to ensure the correct information is captured and recorded by CSGA. Failure to do so may cause economic hardship to the grower who could lose the pedigreed status of the crop. Inspectors must not anticipate any action of the CSGA with respect to the acceptance or refusal of the pedigreed status. The contents of a completed Report of Seed Crop Inspection must remain confidential under all circumstances. No areas of the form may be left blank. All efforts should be made to ensure correct spelling.
Key factors in completion of the report are:
As rye is an open-pollinated crop, particular attention must be paid during inspection to the neighbouring crop. On the Report of Seed Crop Inspection, the inspector must complete the section on open pollinated crops. This requires stating the variety of, the distance to, and the pedigree (if any) of other crops of the same kind adjacent to the crop. If a portion of the inspected crop is removed in lieu of an isolation, the inspector must state the distance that has been removed.
Only the abbreviations and codes recognized by CSGA which are listed in Appendix IV are permitted to be used on the Report of Seed Crop Inspection.
Other Crop Kinds, Difficult to Separate Weeds and Objectionable Weeds must be recorded as designated in Appendices I and II. Prohibited noxious weeds must also be recorded by frequency.
The area of Select plots should be reported as metres by metres. If it is suspected that the plots are larger than permitted by Circular 6, the inspector must obtain accurate measurements to support the observation. The inspector must notify the grower of the possibility of excessive acreage, and recommend that they contact CSGA to discuss options.
If true loose smut is observed in a barley crop, it is to be documented in the Report of Seed Crop Inspection in the Disease field of the Condition of Crop section.
If speltoids are observed, they are to be reported as variants.
When fatuoids, false wild oats or wild oats are noted in a crop of oats, they are to be included when performing counts. In the case of wild oats, they are reported in the Weeds Difficult to Separate section. In the case of fatuoids and false wild oats, they are reported in the Off-Types or Other Varieties section. When wild oats are present in cereals other than oats, they are to be reported in the Objectionable Weeds section by frequency.
In both western and eastern Canada, the presence of Tartarian Buckwheat is to be reported as an objectionable weed. When Tartarian Buckwheat is found in a buckwheat crop, it is to be included in the counts for Weeds Difficult to Separate.
Appendix I: Crop Kinds to Report in Counts in the Inspected Crop
Reporting Other Crop Kinds Difficult to Separate
|All cereals, buckwheat
|All cereals, fatuoids
|All cereals
|All cereals
|All cereals
Appendix II: Weeds to Report in the Cereal Crop
|Inspected Crop Kind
|Difficult to Separate Weeds
(Report in Counts)
|Objectionable Weeds
(Report by Frequency)
|Wild oats
|Cleavers (bedstraw)
Tartarian buckwheat
Wild buckwheat
Wild mustard
|Cleavers (bedstraw)
Tartarian buckwheat
Wild buckwheat
Wild mustard
Wild oats
Appendix III: Common Morphological Synonyms
Glabrous - Bald
Culm - Straw - Stem
Head - Spike - Ear - Inflorescence - Flower
Chaff - Glume
Awn - Beard
Glaucosity - Waxiness
Node - Joint
Pubescent - Hairy
Appendix IV: Abbreviations Recognized by CSGA
|Two rowed
|Glume awns twice length of glume
|Two rowed rough awned
|Glume awns three times length of glume
|Two rowed smooth awned
|Glume beak is long
|Six rowed
|Glume beak is short
|Six rowed rough awned
|Hulless oat
|Six rowed smooth awned
|Hard red spring wheat
|Awns long
|Later (less mature)
|Awns rough
|No awns (awnless)
|Awned and red chaffed
|No awns, brown glumes tall plants
|Awned, red chaffed and tall
|No awns and red chaffed
|Awns short
|No awns, red chaffed tall plants
|Awns semi-smooth
|No awns, tall plants
|Awns smooth, tall plants
|No awns and white chaffed
|Awned and tall
|No awns, white glumes and tall plants
|Awns white
|Red chaffed
|Awned and white chaffed
|Red spring
|Awned, white chaffed and tall
|Smooth Awns
|Awns black
|Tan chaffed oat
|Taller and later plants
|Awns black and tall plants
|Taller, light green oats
|Brown chaffed
|Taller and purple on leaf axis
|Erect plants
|Taller and purple on stem
|White chaffed, taller plants
|False Wild Oats
|Wild oats
|Glume awns same length as glume
Appendix V: Descriptions of Cereal Species
The following section outlines the characteristics displayed at time of inspection for cereal species commonly grown for pedigreed seed.
The following characteristics are to be considered for identification of purity of variety for which the specifics are captured in the variety description obtained from the Product Registration System. For varieties that do not require registration such as forage type oats, triticale, and rye, the inspector must refer to the Form 300 descriptions available from the CSGA.
Some characteristics that are useful in identifying varieties for more than one species are indicated in the following table. Other characteristics which are more species specific are outlined in the species specific section which follows.
|Characteristic Description
|Wheat, Triticale
|Straw pith
|This observation is made by cutting the straw clearly at a mid-point between the ear and the upper stem node. The thickness of the wall depends on the amount of soft tissue beneath the hard epidermis and is classified as either hollow, thick-walled or solid. This characteristic must not be regarded as definitive as variations do occur as a result of different environmental and climatic conditions. In sawfly resistant varieties, the pith is always solid or very thick-walled as a defence mechanism.
|Wheat, Barley, Triticale, Rye
|Head attitude (at maturity)
|Attitudes range from: erect (upright to 30°), semi-erect, inclined (30° to 90°), horizontal, semi-nodding, nodding (>90°).
|Wheat, Barley, Triticale, Rye
|Head shape
|The shape is often determined by the density of the grains. Varieties with a very dense grain arrangement on a short head usually results in a triangular shaped head. Shapes include: tapering, parallel, oblong, clavate and fusiform.
|Wheat, Rye, Triticale
|Head density
|Determined by the relative length of the rachis segments, and ranging from lax to dense. Varieties with visible spaces between grains when viewed from the side as a result of long rachis segments within the head are described as lax.
|Oats, Barley
|Hulled oats and barleys have strong glumes which hold the seed in the spikelets, whereas hulless oats and barley are essentially "naked" and the seeds are released easily from the lemma and palea.
|Wheat, Barley, Triticale
|Glume pubescence
|Glumes of certain uncommon varieties are covered with a mat of fine hairs which resemble felt or fine fur. This is a very distinct character that is classified as glabrous, slightly pubescent, or strongly pubescent.
|Wheat, Barley, Triticale
|Awn length
|The actual length of the awns as they extend beyond the head can vary greatly from extending longer than the length of the head itself to extending less than the length of the head.
|Wheat, Barley, Triticale, Oat
|Waxiness (head and culm)
|Many varieties have plant surfaces possessing a coating of wax. The absence of wax gives a very different appearance after head emergence in that the flag leaves and spikes appear "yellow-green" instead of "blue-green". It can be confusing, because "non-waxy"; surfaces actually have a glossy or wax-finished appearance whereas "waxy"; surfaces have a thin deposit of dull waxy powder which is white, pale-grey or light blue in colour. The best places to find a potentially waxy surface are the base of the ventral sides of the lemma, the lower part of the palea, or the stem. It should be recognized, however, that the location of wax may be influenced by the environment.
Wheat (Triticum spp.)
Wheat is a monoecious plant with perfect flowers. It reproduces sexually as a self-pollinated crop. Cross pollination occurs at usually <3%, however possibly may be as high as 10% in some genotypes and/or environments. The inflorescence of wheat is a determinate composite spike (head). Spikelets are alternately arranged on the rachis. Each spikelet has two bract like empty glumes that enclose two to nine florets. The outer parts of each floret consist of a lemma and a palea.
Three types of wheat exist. Winter wheats are the same species as spring wheats and share the same identification characters. Winter wheat differs from spring wheat in that it has a winter habit, requiring vernalization, the exposure to cool temperatures and short day lengths in order to initiate reproduction.
Durum wheat is a distinct and separate species from common spring and winter wheats. The heads and neck of durum wheat are more compact than those of common wheat and appear squarish in cross section.
For identification purposes, wheat can be grouped into two groups. Those possessing awns > 5 cm in length up to the length of the head (bearded), and beardless whose awns are either absent or very short in comparison. Similarly awnless, apically awnletted and awnletted are used to describe awn characteristics.
In most of the awnless varieties, the length of the lemma awns increases towards the apex of the head, and in certain varieties, the length of the awns may justify the description of semi-bearded.
It is of particular importance when inspecting pedigreed seed, that one is aware of einkorn, emmer and spelt species. Although they are not certified in large quantities in Canada, they are of concern as contaminating sources. Einkorn along with emmer and spelt are often referred to as' the covered wheats', since the kernels do not thresh free of the lemma, palea, and glume upon harvesting. Today's modern wheats are as a result of selections caused by natural mutations starting with einkorn, emmer, and spelt.
The following characteristics are to be considered for verification of purity of variety.
Glume Characteristics: variations will be encountered within a variety and also over the length of the ear.
Glume internal imprint: these clearly marked areas are caused by the pressure of the external surface of the lemma. This area can be seen as dark shadowy areas between the veins or nerves which run from the base of the glume to the beak and shoulder margins and are classified as absent, small, medium, or large.
Other characterizing morphological traits to consider when identifying wheat varieties.
- Height (stem plus spike, excluding awns)
- Head length (excluding awns, use first tiller)
- Head shape
- Head waxiness
- Head awnedness
- Head attitude
- Head density
- Rachis margin pubescence
- Pubescence on upper culm internode
- Upper culm internode waxiness
- Culm neck shape
- Straw pith
- Supernumerary spikelets
- Awn attitude
- Awn colour
- Awn length
- Glume beak shape and length
- Glume shoulder shape and width
- Glume length
- Glume width
- Glume pubescence
Straw Pith (in cross section at middle of internode below the neck)
Spike Density
Spike Awnedness
Spike Shape
Rachis Margin Pubescence
Diagram of the Rachis Margin Pubescence
Culm: Shape of Neck
Glume Beak Shape
Glume Shoulder Shape
Glume Shoulder Width
Glume Pubescence
Spike and Spikelet Characteristics of Einkorn, Emmer and Spelt
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
There are two main types of cultivated barley: two-row and six-row. Each type has three spikelets at each rachis node (one central and two laterals), and each spikelet contains one floret. Groups of spikelets are arranged in an alternate and opposite fashion on the rachis. The lateral spikelets of two-rowed barley are sterile and the central is fertile, resulting in two rows of kernels on the rachis. All florets of six-rowed barley may be fertile, resulting in six rows of kernels when viewed in cross section or from the top of the spikelet. Cultivated barley species are naturally self-pollinating.
In addition to the main two-row versus six-row distinguishing factor, barley varieties also vary in that they may be winter or spring, hulled or hulless, for forage or grain, and for malting or feed purposes. Some forage varieties have increased isolation requirements as specified by the breeder. This additional requirement can be found in the "Additional Comments" section of the variety description within the Product Registration System.
Unlike wheat, the characteristics identifying barley are considered as definitive in that they do not vary over a range, resulting in greater certainty when identifying varieties. The following characteristics are to be considered for identification of purity of variety.
Plant Characteristics After Heading: Many characteristics useful in identifying varieties are best considered when the seeds on the head are ripe. For this reason, some of the following information may not be entirely accurate as inspections are conducted before the grains begin to mature.
Kernel: In six-row varieties, the central kernels are slightly larger and plumper than the lateral kernels, while the kernels of two-row varieties are all uniform in shape and size. The length of hair on the rachilla can be useful in distinguishing varieties. It ranges from short, to long and feathery. The aleurone colour of a dehulled barley kernel may be yellow, white or a blue shade.
Lemma awns: In some varieties, especially those with dense heads, the awns tend to spread out like a fan. In certain varieties, the lemma awns are discarded as the grain ripens. This "dropping-off" of awns can also occur in normal varieties under certain climatic conditions such as extreme drought.
Anthocyanin: Many varieties contain this purple or red pigment in various parts of the plant in the vegetative and reproductive stages. Most pigmented varieties tend to lose this colour as the plants ripen, but some will retain the pigment in the five dorsal lateral nerves of the developing grain. Positive identification of non-pigmented varieties by reference to fully mature grain is impossible, but the anthocyanin pigment's presence can be detected in growing plant material. The best places to look are in the basal leaf sheath of the first leaf, the stem nodes and auricles, and especially in the tips of the awns if the plant is still green.
Other characterizing morphological traits to consider when identifying barley varieties.
This table represents other characterizing morphological traits to consider when identifying barley varieties. All three columns are the characterizing morphological traits of the barley varieties. For more information contact Seeds Section at 613-225-2342.
- Lemma awn tip colour (anthocyanin)
- Head length
- Glume hair length
- Awn length
- Head attitude
- Glume awn barbs
- Height (stem plus spike)
- Head waxiness
- Glume length
- Collar shape
- Head shape
- Glume pubescence
- Aleurone colour
- Rachilla hair length
Glume Length
Length of Barley Awns' Extension (relative to ear length)
Awn Attitude
Rachilla Hairs
Collar Shape
The collar has a raised margin on the rear part with the forward part protruding downwards.
The entire upper surface of the collar is almost flat or convex. The margin or edge of the collar is flat or slightly sloping downwards.
The margin is raised to create a cup-like structure. The base of the first rachis segment is concealed.
The forward part of the collar is not complete like the other types, but forms a deep open slit for a considerable way down the stem.
Spike Attitude
First Rachis Segment
Barley Kernel
Oats (Avena sativa L., A. nuda)
Oats is an annual, self pollinating grass for which out-crossing seldom exceeds 0.5%. The stem is composed of a series of nodes and internodes with alternate leaves. The stem usually contains four to seven elongated internodes and the uppermost internode is often as long as the combined length of all other internodes. Mature stems terminate in a loose, open panicle. The main axis of the panicle terminates in a single spikelet. Alternate groups of branches arise from the main axis and each branch terminates in a single spikelet. The number of spikelets per panicle normally ranges from 25 to 45 depending on genotype and growing conditions. Each spikelet usually contains from one to three florets enclosed in empty glumes with the tip of one glume extending slightly above the other. Usually only the two basal florets are fertile, but on occasion 3 or more are fertile. Each flower is perfect and has three stamens, a pistil and 2 lodicules. The flower is enclosed by two bracts, the lemma and palea, which are known as the hulls on the harvested oat grain. While both spring and winter types of oats exist, winter hardiness in oats is not sufficient to survive in Canada.
The following characteristics are to be considered for verification of purity of variety.
Panicle type (Head shape): Varieties can be divided into two groups according to their panicle type. Varieties whose panicles are equilateral or equal-sided give the general appearance of a triangle or cone. This arrangement is the most common. Varieties whose panicles are unilateral appear one-sided so that all the branches tend to be on one side of the main rachis of the panicle. These varieties are sometimes referred to as "side oats". Unilateral panicles tend to lean over due to the lop-sided weight of the grains and can be easily identified when acting as a contaminant in a crop of plants with equilateral panicles. Sometimes, however, this trait is not the result of a contaminant, but a border row effect whereby equilateral varieties resemble unilateral varieties along the outside of border rows due to excess water along the field's edge. Unilateral panicles may possess a thickened swelling or false node below the lowest whorl of branches. Semi-unilateral and sub-unilateral varieties exist in that some branches do not conform entirely to the unilateral characteristic. A few varieties change from the equilateral type to semi-unilateral as they ripen.
Length of hairs or spines on lower panicle node: Panicle branches arise from nodes on the flowering stem. The bases of these branches are generally swollen and covered with very small spines or hairs. Varieties can be distinguished by the number and relative length of these hairs on the swollen bases.
Rachilla Characteristics: (observe at green stage shortly after heading) The rachillas on the upper region of the panicles possess certain features which can be used in varietal identification.
Rachilla grooves: In many varieties the rachilla has two longitudinal depressions down each side of a central raised section. These depressions are often grooved and the extent in which they extend down the rachilla is a varietal characteristic.
Rachilla pubescence: In most varieties the rachilla is glabrous, though some varieties have short hairs, spines or barbs which are attached to the surface of the rachilla.
Lemma awn presence: In certain varieties most primary grains may have awns arising from the median nerve on the dorsal side of the lemma. The presence or absence of awns and the number of primary grains producing these awns can be greatly influenced by environmental factors thus caution should be used when using this feature as an identifying characteristic.
Other characterizing morphological traits to consider when identifying oat varieties.
- Panicle branch position
- Presence of secondary rachis node
- Number of panicle branches
- Panicle branch length
- Angle between rachis and dominant side branch angle
- Average number of florets per spikelet
- Rachis shape
- Height (including panicle)
- Number of panicle whorls
Panicle Characteristics
Diagram of the Panicle Characteristics
Panicle Shape
Panicle Branch Position
Triticale (Triticosecale)
Triticale is a cross between wheat and rye. Morphologically it resembles its wheat parent, but exhibits the more vigorous growth characteristics of rye. Triticale has either a spring or winter growth habits, has variable plant height and tends to tiller less than wheat. The inflorescence of triticale is a spike resembling that of wheat more than rye, and is often considerably larger than that of wheat and rye. As with both parents, the spike of triticale is composed of a series of some 30 to 40 spikelets arranged alternately on each side of the rachis. Each spikelet consists of 4 to 8 florets, of which usually only 3 are fertile. Each spikelet is surrounded by two glumes of chaff, and the lemma and palea enclose each floret in the spikelet. The lemmas generally taper into a 7 to 10 cm long awn. The awn lengths vary between varieties. Due to it's free-threshing property, the lemma and palea do not adhere to the kernel during threshing. It is a self pollinating species with the pollen being released within the floret. The period of anthesis in triticale varies among varieties but generally is longer than in wheat and thus more susceptible to out-crossing. Anthesis normally begins in the central portion of the spike when the spike has completely emerged from the leaf sheath. Triticale varieties are often one or two weeks later maturing than wheat.
Characterizing morphological traits to consider when identifying triticale varieties.
- Head shape
- Awn colour
- Culm neck shape
- Head density
- Awn length
- Stem pubescence
- Head attitude
- Awn attitude
- Straw pith
- Head length
- Supernumerary spikelets
- Stem waxiness
- Head colour
- Glume shoulder shape
- Rachis margin pubescence
- Head waxiness
- Glume beak shape
- Head awnedness
- Glume pubescence
Rye (Secale cereale)
Morphologically, rye most closely resembles wheat of all the cereals. Although the leaves are similar in shape to those of wheat, they tend to exhibit a typical bluish colour. Rye is typically taller and tillers less profusely than wheat. Rye seedlings can be distinguished from other cereal seedlings by it's fine pubescence covering the sheath. The plants have numerous, highly branching, deep roots. The inflorescence is a rather lax, slender spike, 10 to 15 cm long. The spikelets at each node of the rachis usually contain three florets, with the two outer florets being fertile and the central one being sterile. As does wheat, the lemma and palea which enclose the floret are free-threshing. The lemmas which are longer than the glumes, taper gradually and often bear barbs on the keel and awns of intermediate length. The kernels are longer and more slender than those of wheat. Rye differs from other small grains in that the crop is largely cross-pollinated, as most rye plants are self-sterile, and characteristically some florets fail to set seed. The spike attitude varies with variety and can be erect or nodding. Rye varieties can be distinguished from one another by observing their spike form: fusiform, elliptic or oblong, the kernel size and shape, and the degree of blue or green colouration. Because of it's open glume orientation for cross-pollinating purposes, rye is highly susceptible to ergot. Due to the tendency for rye to ripen quickly which makes the plants more prone to shattering, there is a narrow window for time of inspection.
Characterizing morphological traits to consider when identifying rye varieties.
- Plant height
- Head length
- Head waxiness
- Stem pubescence
- Head density
- Head attitude
- Degree of colouration
- Head shape
- Head awns
Rye Plant
- Date modified:


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"When Should Manufacturers Want Fair Trade?": New Insights from Asymmetric Information when Supply Chains Compete
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Bibliographic InfoArticle provided by Wiley Blackwell in its journal Journal of Economics & Management Strategy.
Volume (Year): 20 (2011)
Issue (Month): 3 (09)
Pages: 649-677
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Web page: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/research/journals/JEMS/
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- Fiocco, Raffaele, 2014. "The strategic value of partial vertical integration," Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems 455, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
- Bakó, Barna & Kálecz-Simon, András, 2012.
"Vertikális korlátozások - növelik vagy csökkentik a jólétet?. Érvek az irodalomból
[Vertical constraints - do they increase or reduce welfare?. Arguments in the literature]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(10), pages 1138-1159.
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Nice vest!
Dickies® Diamond Quilted Nylon Work Vest
Item # WX2-421278
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This item is shipped directly from the factory. To see the expected shipping date, please add to your Shopping Cart. Sorry, no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses.
- Details & Specs
Dickies® Diamond Quilted Nylon Work Vest. Toughness unsleeved!
- Shell is 100% diamond quilted nylon with PU coating and DWR durable water-repellent treatment
- 100% polyester fill for lightweight warmth
- Lining is 65/35 poly / cotton jersey knit
- Full zipper front
- Rib-knit at rear waist and collar
- Hand warmer pockets. Imported.
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The youngest victim of last January's Tucson massacre was remembered today amid the Rose Bowl festivities. A portrait of 9-year-old Christina Green is among 71 others featured on the "Donate Life" float, a Rose Parade float designed to honor organ donors. Green's death brought sight to two other people after her family decided to donate her eyes.
Volunteers created the bulk of the Donate Life float, but family members were able to help finish the artwork on the portraits.
Copyright KPHO 2012. All rights reserved.


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Perfect first big bike. Low mileage for age. Full service history, long tax and MOT. Recent service and valve clearances have been done. Serviced every year since ownership, book now full. New DID chain and new sprocket set with minimal mileage covered on them. Original cans, stainless downpipes which were on when bought. Good tyres. Perfect example of a bike this age.
1999 T reg KAWASAKI ZZR, Sports, 18,700 miles. BLACK, A Very Good Condition 1999 KAWASAKI ZZR 600 in Black and Grey. Fitted with a Tall Screen, Rear Rack and Hugger. Comes with a full MOT. This bike has been very well cared for by its previous owners. A great sports touring bike for a great price. £2,495
Taxed till Dec 14. MOT valid until mid May 15. Good condition for age and very reliable. Phone Ray with any questions.
2005 55 reg KAWASAKI ZZR ZX600 E13H, Manual, Sports Tourer, Petrol, 11,966 miles. SILVER, That's right, included with this motorcycle is a truely unbeatable 24 month parts and labour gurantee which includes 2 years UK Roadside assistance!, Service history, Tyre condition Excellent, 24 months warranty included, Good Bodywork, Just taken in part exchange, this wonderful 2005 Kawasaki ZZR600. Perfect for the sports touring rider who doesnt want to be forced into a large capacity motorcycle. Usable and flickable. The ZZR proved itself one of Kawasaki's longest standing motorcycles. This bike is as standard, and is showing a couple of marks ...
Kawasaki ZZR600, 42462 miles,The Kawasaki ZZR600 is overlooked by many but those whove ridden them know how good they can be, , the ZZ-R600 is practical Roomy and comfortable, Px to clear: Some of these bikes may require a little work to make roadworthy, hence sold for spares or repairs. This may sound extreme, but it is the only way we can legally sell these vehicles within trading standards laws, this means the price you pay is lower. We are unable to offer finance on these bikes, please ensure that you have a method of collecting the bike or we ...
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ZZR600E13H. nice 600cc mid range sports tourer with high miles but in very good overall condition and fitted with meta alarm,topbox,tinted screen,hugger and fairing bobbins. phone now for details...... UK Bike, HPI Checked, This is an excellent example make sure you don't miss out on this fantastic bike at this fantastic price! UK Delivery to your Door Available, Part exchange welcome, Finance Available, Visit us 7 days a week, click on our web site, or give a call to our helpful team , We are Main Dealer's For Suzuki, Kawasaki and Sym. Plenty of onsite Parking, a friendly relaxed showroom ...
2003/03...21904 miles. A good tidy example that is in stock trim save for a tinted touring screen. It comes with the handbook and service book and both original keys. It has 4 dealer stamps and a customer documented history also. It is in general all round good condition.This will suit the smaller rider with its low seat height.
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August 22, 2014
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Here's our guide to ten of the best laptops for students currently available.
Next generation broadband rollout
A new fibre optic network will provide next generation broadband services to 98 per cent of homes and business across Wales
A £425 million investment in a major roll-out of next generation broadband has been announced for Wales.
First Minister Carwyn Jones announced the public-private partnership deal with telecommunications giant BT.
The deal will see a new fibre optic network providing next generation broadband services to 98% of homes and business across Wales.
Mr Jones said the scheme would secure thousands of jobs and offer internet users in Wales speeds of up to 330 megabits per second.
He described the package as the biggest of its kind in the UK and one which would see Wales not only catching up in terms of broadband technology but "setting the pace" for the future.
He said: "This is an incredibly important agreement for Wales. Our partnership with BT will see to it that Wales does more than simply catch up with our neighbours - we intend to catch up, overtake and then set the pace that others will strive to match. The project will transform the broadband landscape across Wales and ensure that local businesses can become global businesses. It will ensure that firms remain in Wales and it will also attract a more diverse range of high growth, high value companies to the country across all our key sectors from tourism to high-end manufacturing."
As a result of winning the contract, BT will create 50 new jobs and 100 new apprenticeships. Officials say 320 existing jobs will also be protected and in addition, BT will offer work experience to 900 young people.
The new fibre broadband will provide speeds approximately 15 times faster than those currently available in Wales - with ultra-fast broadband providing faster speeds should businesses need it.
A spokesman said: "Up to 2,500 further full-time jobs could be created throughout the Welsh economy over time. Today's agreement exceeds the target of the UK Government to deliver faster broadband to 90% of the UK population. More than 1.3 million premises in Wales will have access to world class broadband speeds."
The deal is being financed through a mixture of funds from the Welsh Government, UK Government, European Structural Funds and private sector investment.


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Brides @WedFestivals asked and we are answering
Tip 5: Open it up and let me see what you got!
Q. What should I look for in a Portfolio Review with a Photographer?
A. There are a number of things, but here are the top ones:
1. Weddings. Believe it or not, so Photogs will try and show you nature pictures and photo's of buildings. Although they images may be stunning, they have nothing to do with a wedding and the quality you will receive from the wedding. Make sure they have a healthy preview of previous Weddings they have done.
2. Don't mess with the Dress! When a bride picks out her dress, she does so for a reason. The Detail, the pieces and parts that make her dress unique to her. Make sure the dresses in the photos provide plenty of detail. We have seen alot of photos where the photog cannot control the light, and the dress is solid white (or what we call blown out).
3. Balance that Color! Was your dress really blue? It wasn't? Then why is it blue in the photo? Unless its a post edit special process (antique, HDR, etc) then the picture should be balanced and pleasing to the eye. Phototogs call it White Balance and there is a reason there is a setting on the camera for it
4. Did you get a sunburn during your Bachelor / Bachelorette party? Flesh tones are a huge. Look at the face, the skin. Each color tone of flesh is different and should look normal.
5. What happened to your eyes, did you drink a red bull before this was taken? A photo should be crisp and in focus when a photog takes the picture. If not, then they face and important parts of the image become blurry. Some times sharpening during the post process is needed. There are some instances where too much is used and it looks very odd. Good motto for sharpness: Its like tylenol…enough will get rid of your headache. Take the whole bottle and it will probably kill you.
Q. What is involved with a Consultation?
A. You should have at minimum 2 consultations with your Photographer. 1 at the beginning of the process, and another a few weeks before the big day. These will help you express your expectations of what you really desire for the big day. (Shoe's, mood, etc). There should also be plenty of conversation between them as well. your photographer should always be available for any questions you have.
Next tip coming soon!
Keep smiling Zingers!
FamZing Photography, Video and DesignSource: famzing.com
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The Blank Club8pm
Concert-goers should know what they're getting into when the two supporting acts on the bill are Behold the Desecration and Decapitated Midget…
Johnny V's9pm
A lot of people can sing, but few really know how to put their heart into their voice. Bay area singer Courtney King has some serious pipes…
Double D's Sports Grille9pm
Double D's will be hosting Karaoke night every Wednesday starting at 9:00 p.m!
Come along and sing your heart out to your favorite solos,…
Various Locations in Santa Clara County9:30am-5:30pm
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA – Ongoing from January 6th through 31st: Bring your young children and together enjoy a free preview class of Music…
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"I am very pleased with my boys joint invites. Very good quality. Was easy to deign and very pleased. Will be using you again in the near future. Will refer friends as well."
"I absolutely loved the designed but expected better quality pictures. I can't tell if it is an error on my end or a flaw in the printing of the invitations."
"This was the perfect invite for my daughter's 3rd birthday party that was cowgirl themed. She was in a "My Little Pony" phase but I wanted to class it up a bit so I went with a cowgirl theme and infused a bit of "My Little Pony" here and there. The inset photo I chose was one of her dressed as a cowgirl which I would recommend as it really pulled it all together. Overall, just a great, classic design. The apples on the back are a cute touch, too!"
"The design couldn't be more perfect for my son's birthday party at a Tae Kwon Do studio. The colors are striking and I love the ability to use a large photo. It's a beautiful invitation and I could not wait to send them out to the party guests."
"These invitations are adorable. They are perfect for my car and truck loving two year old. The paper is very nice quality and best of all...they shipped FAST! I received them in three days!"


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All-day pass, equipment rental for three, including 100 paintballs each: Redeemable Saturdays and Sundays only
Paintball combines the beauty of abstract art with the visceral rush of military combat, much like a Jackson Pollock biopic starring Sylvester Stallone. Paint a Rambo-worthy masterpiece with this Groupon.
$59 for a Paintball Package for Three ($311.40 Value)
Each player in the group receives an all-day paintball pass valid for walk-on play on any Saturday or Sunday, equipment rental, and 100 paintballs each. Players also receive an additional all-day paintball pass for a return visit.


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impressive (and slightly-terrifying) first person perspective of BMX dirt trails
What is the "Tour de France"?
photos* of and by thomas woodson, joey schusler, and sam seward biking the huayhuash mountain range in the peruvian andes. with a climb to over fifteen thousand feet, the route they planned for had only been completed once before by bicycle. as woodson puts it, riding a bicycle in this terrain at that altitude is "like pushing a wheelbarrow up a staircase while trying to breath through a drinking straw."
*published in outside, yeticycles and their multimedia feature at bikemag.
Is this even real?
Source: nubbsgalore
Like A Peloton, Not A Machine
Organizational metaphors can be helpful to think about what's going on in work culture. Gareth Morgan's Images of Organizationis a great compendium of metaphors: organization as a machine, organism, brain, culture, political systems, etc. I also find Joanne Martin's analysis of contending…
Cycling isn't a game, it's a sport. Tough, hard and unpitying, and it requires great sacrifices. One plays football, or tennis, or hockey. One doesn't play at cycling.
I love Rapha's use of photography in their Spring Summer 2014 Lookbook shot on location in the Cévennes in France. You can see these and more over at Rapha http://pages.rapha.cc/products/springsummer-2014-training-racing
(via unmodernman)
Source: pages.rapha.cc
Technology at its cutest — The Bipedal Cycling Robot
In 2011, robot creator Masahiko Yamaguchi demonstrated a robot which can balance, steer and correct itself while riding a fixed-gear bike.
Full video with more information here.
(via cyclivist)
Source: sci-universe
WATCH OUT! It's bike to work day. Be careful out there.
Original image from The Bearings, v.10 Aug 1894 - Jan 1895
You've seen fancy pansy persuasive design sketches before. Let us tell You this: That is not how it usually works. Most of our design projects are born on a piece of paper, in a note book or like this, on a bumpy van ride between Morgan Hill and San Francisco, in a note book with a Sharpie.
Telephone scribble is about getting as much of Your idea onto paper, as fast as possible, making sure you don't lose it. When You get them sweet ideas flying around your head, there is not time to go fancy on lines ore detailing. Those initial sketches are notes for yourself. Next steps includes more scribble or sketches worthy to present to others.
(via wearegoingawol)
Source: thegrreatescape
Australian Cyclists Party reveals its Coat of Arms based on the 1896 original.
Kaia the Dog Races Down Trail Faster Than Her Human's Mountain Bike
Almost nothing better then dogs & cycling together.
Putting together a group ride can be challenging. If everyone's not on the same page about there wheres/whats and whens of the ride, it can be frustrating as well. A huge mistake I made last year was dropping hammers in the winter when I should have been more Mellow Johnny for a few months. Luckily, we were able to gather a group of us this morning with the same goal of building a base. Here's what Joe Friel, author of The Cyclist Training Bible has to say about the importance of base miles:
"When you ride for two or more hours at a steady pace—a typical base ride—your body responds with changes that allow you to use more oxygen and burn more fat as fuel. Your mitochondria—the parts of your cells that produce energy—also multiply and enlarge. And you churn out more enzymes that help turn stored fuel into energy. The result: You can ride faster and longer." (Joe Friel via Bicycling.com)
Mitochondria. Enzymes. Base. Got it? Good. Now go plan a group ride, be social, take more photos, and take it easy every once in a while!


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Campaign Coordination Intern - RICHMOND, VA OFFICE Job Listing at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Richmond, VA (Job ID 1676070)
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Virginia Chapter is seeking an intern to assist with the marketing & event coordination of its fundraising campaigns including Team In Training, Light The Night, School & Youth and Man & Woman of the Year.
Benefits to Student:
Gain practical working skills and experience in the non-profit sector
Intern will develop documents that can serve as work samples for their portfolio
Networking opportunities and business experience for resume
This is a great learning experience in fundraising, special events and marketing.
Please submit resume, references, and office location to:
Ann Miller, Campaign Manager
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
5540 Falmouth St, Ste 101
Richmond, VA 23230
Fax: 804-673-5696
Apply on Company Website
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4 Goals to Boost Happiness at Home
in the New Year
A new year, a new promise for sanity and a new frontier stretching wide in front of us. What do you want to cultivate in your life this year? Ultimately most of us, more than anything else, want to be happy. We can clean up our shower curtains, we can tidy up the book cases, and we can finally move the clutter out of the garage, yes. But happiness is truly an inside job. There is a Tibetan saying that says: "Seeking happiness outside ourselves is like waiting for the sunshine in a cave facing north."
To make the new year truly happy, we might consider doing things that move the opening of our cave in the right direction -- things that cultivate the internal (and therefore eternal) light. More than a fleeting experience, contentment is a skill that can be learned; It is something that you can practice and get better at in your daily life. Here are four things (that have been researched and proven to boost the mood) that you might consider doing on a regular basis in the new year:
1. Do one totally unexpected nice thing for someone else each day. If you have housemates, do it for someone that you live with. (Note: totally unexpected! Paying your share of the rent does not count!) According to Martin E.P. Seligman, happiness expert and author of Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being, "We scientists have found that doing a kindness produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being of any exercise we have tested."
2. Every night, briefly write down three things that went well and why. This is called the "what-went-well exercise" and has been scientifically proven to boost mood even for the clinically depressed. This activity may feel odd at first, but it's like anything that is new; you have to practice it before it becomes second nature. But by doing so you can learn to re-focus on the positive, to reflect on what went well rather than what went badly. We are programmed to zero in on the negative -- zooming in on what's good typically takes some work.
3. Make regular gratitude dates. Choose a friend or acquiantance who has helped you or positively influenced you in some way. Ask that person to meet you and tell them, in person, why you are so thankful for them. Notice how this affects your mood and theirs, as well as the relationship. (Relationships, after all, are what scientists tell us are the key to a fulfilled life.) Note: It has to be in person, and it is best if it is a surprise!
4. Set a goal for the new year. But, here's what most people don't do: break this big goal down into smaller goals. Research shows that goal-setting is associated with happiness. (If you are following our January Cure, you are headed in the right direction!) What does your ideal life look like? Take the time to think it through and write it down. Psychologist Dr. Laura King found that "people who wrote about their visions showed increases in positive mood, were happier several weeks later, and even reported fewer physical ailments."
If you can dream it, you can achieve it, right?
(Image: Leela Cyd Ross)
26 Comments
Surprising someone with an unexpected kindness feels so good and boosts your immune system! So, go ahead. Let someone pull out of the driveway. Let the harried mother juggling a baby or toddler(or both!)and purchases line at the store go ahead of you. Stoop to pick up something a person walking ahead of you has dropped. Smile and make eye contact. We all long for connection in the world. It can be a lot less lonely place with just a tiny bit of effort.
Two lives changed for the better.
I think I am a pretty shy person and struggle to connect with people something but you know what...some of the most friendly people I've met are senior citizens. My car battery died at the grocery store and I was standing around on my cell phone looking pathetic. An elderly man, probably pushing 80, asked me if I needed help...let me use his jumper cables and actually gave me one of his Gatorades. We talked for a while in the parking lot about his old Mustangs and how I should take better care of my car (since they dont make Saturn's anymore haha) It was really nice to connect with a random stranger like that
Moral of that story? Old people are awesome, talk to them. They have cool stories.
One last tip - having a house rabbit can help the happiness level too! Adorable bunny.
House rabbits are the best!
Here here on the house rabbit!
Thank you for sharing in this article and for the posts above me :) You've already boosted my happiness level and I plan to share you words with my friends, husband and my 90 year old father who is hospitalized at the moment and impatiently waiting to come live with me, and I think we all need to hear and do our own work with some of these tips. xoxo!
Doing things for others truly is a way to be happy.....and if you are living with someone else, this apartment therapy is something everyone in the home gets to enjoy!
best goal for happiness: I should finish th...
This post makes me want to snuggle my bunnies at home. I have bonded pair - I second the comments about about house rabbits. I say all well cared for and loved pets will increase your happiness.
I have to make a comment about the suggestion to "let someone pull out of the driveway".
I commute to work. It's 15 miles but takes 45 minutes because of the 28 traffic lights, usually on red. I have to admit it really torcs me off when people do their random acts of kindness by holding up traffic even more, making me late for work. (Yes, it happens. I usually pad my time to arrive early, but sometimes I can't.)
It's one thing to be kind to someone who wants to merge, but you ALSO need to consider the people who are being held up when you do that. People in driveways and side streets usually will find a natural gap in the traffic eventually. If you are approaching a stop light and can let them in without actually messing things up for the other people behind you who will have to stop anyhow, that's excellent. But I have seen idiots decide to be all kind hearted in four lanes, and stop to let someone in who then proceeds to block three lanes of traffic trying to turn left into the far lane. Which kind of obviates any well-being they thing they caused.
(soapbox mode off)
BUNNY! (I have a house rabbit too. Mine would HATE being that far off the ground!)
If only, If only I could have a house bunny, but alas I have developed, after years of rabbit ownership, severe clergies to all things related to them.
Not sure if it was mentioned already or not, but they're just like cats. (If you train them to use the litter box, which is not horrifically hard actually.)
So my goal to make my house happier is, in the spring when they are in season and the weather more cooperative, to get a new baby parrot.
I cannot resist, but "developed severe clergies (to rabbits)" is one of the best typos ever!
Thanks everyone, and glad you enjoyed the post!
If you want to do 2 of these things at once, stop by an animal shelter and pet some bunnies (or kitties). I worked at one and people would claim the shelter was "too depressing". It's not. It's a nice place filled with love and caring people.
One day when at the shelter my mom called to say my Grandma had died. We happened to also be having a huge snowstorm outside. I was supposed to go home (not my family's home) but I stuck around and hung out with a gorgeous white cat that I liked.
Later I tried to drive and it was a horrible commute. I should have stayed with my cat, it was so comforting!
I like all the tips in the original post (and the reader feedback so far), but the one that most strikes a chord with me is the tip about writing down 3 things that went right and why. I get so focused on what needs doing, what fixes need doing at work, what needs improving in my condo, some of the latter being stuff that I've procrastinated on for months or YEARS ... blah blah blah blah BLAH; it's a real downer.
By contrast, to stop and think what went RIGHT is a real treat. And the added step of thinking "why" those things went right - heck, that's a real lightbulb moment, whether for how to do something again in the future or at least how to roll with punches and improvise as close-to-right-as-you-can-get for a particular deadline.
Another thing that's made me happy this month is to UNSUSCRIBE from some pricey event emails and shopping site emails so I won't spend time looking at them, being tempted by them and maybe winding up spending money that I'd be better off not spending. I'm resolving to find a way to continue to have a social life and have fun while cutting back on recreational spending or finding lower-cost forms of fun or economizing in other ways ...
This is so true and amazingly applicable today for me...I left a "basic" chain restaurant this evening where the overworked server made a big blunder with my service...for some inexplicable reason I decided to leave him a few extra bucks over a normal tip anyway since I'm a semi-regular and I felt it wasn't that big a deal as he was making it... I saw him clear the table and hold up the larger-than-expected bill, pausing almost in astonishment, then run up to me at the cashier with a big relieved smile and a "thanks so very much again!"...The good feelings I'm experiencing made this decision probably the best few dollars I've spent in a long time.
C.Richelle, I want to a get a parrot too! But not a baby, although they are adorable. Parrots can live 60 years or more, so they often outlive their owners. Think about adopting a grown parrot in need. You can find beautiful adult parrots on petfinder.com. I've known people who have adopted adult parrots and were able to bond with them very well.
Yay for house rabbits! My two never fail to cheer me up.
@BitchyDecor - "It can be a lot less lonely place with just a tiny bit of effort."
That is so well put. Actually, your whole post brings up a lot of things that are so easy to do but so easy to not notice the impact it can have on helping one through an otherwise rough day.
House rabbits are the best! Now does anyone have ideas on how to "design" around them? First off, I probably should not have adopted 5....um (insert crazy bunny lady comments, very appropriate) but they are here to stay. Anyone know of good ways to disguise their litter boxes? Or any nice bunny gates for stopping them from getting into areas where they do not belong? I am at a loss.
These sound like great ways to make some bunny very happy.
Is it Chibi in the photo?
JessL - go to the House Rabbit Society website. They are the best rabbit resource on the web. I don't know what you mean by disguising litterboxes, typically bunnies go to the corners of the house so rabbit owners put litterboxes in corners so the bunnies won't go on the floor.
Learn all you can, and find a vet who specializes in rabbits. Nutrition, safety proofing the house and recognizing disease is absolutely vital.
I do love wabbits! But I also love my rescue ferrets & dogs! Right at this very moment I am cracking up because my female dog is having a tail wagging play session with the girl ferret. Yes, ferrets & dogs DO get along if raised together. My dogs are a LOT bigger than the ferrets but they seem to instinctively know how to be gentle- even when the ferrets are nipping the dickens out of the dogs while playing. And yes, to all those ready to comment about leaving them unattended, I DO stay with them at all times during play sessions. Not only for the safety factor but for the fact that they ARE all so sweet playing & snoozing together that it warms my heart & makes me smile- which is especially wonderful after a stressful day. A cup of hot tea, sitting in my comfy chair by the big west facing window, 4 furry friends having a play session... that's heaven.
I'm tickled at how many AT readers have rabbits! I've literally never encountered anyone with a pet rabbit (that I knew of). More to the point, these suggestions are fantastic. I can personally endorse the first and fourth. Love this positive psychology stuff!


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text:
- Greg Jones
- London
- United Kingdom
This conversation is closed.
What is the tipping point, the critical mass, required in order for the public to act en masse?
The question is self explanatory, what is the tipping point, the critical mass, required in order for the public to act en masse to air their grievances, and how can we quantify, gauge it and predict it?.
Dec 21 2013: I think the public dynamic is not mass critical rather it is phase critical. For the public to act enmasse, the public system need to attain a critical phase characterized by:
a) perpetuation of common misery
b) key persons, groups or ideologues proposing change
c) the hope of success by action.
I derive these observations not from successful revolutions but from administrative strategies to foil them. Take any one out of the equation and you have a failed enmasse action.
Steven Why 50+
Joshua Bond 20+Dec 26 2013: Given chaos theory, the tipping point is likely to be some "random event" that triggers the public imagination and courage to act. However, certain other aspects need to be in place first, such as a focal point/person around which to act, accumulated communication links, and a build-up of dis-satisfaction (maybe over many, many years).
Jess Diaz
Jim GuildDec 12 2013: In the US, though it is not always obvious to the casual observer, we act en masse at least every two years. It isn't perfect (just look at the news), but every citizen has the right to be heard and counted at every election. Change will surely follow if we are generally dissatisfied with a person or action. Watch what happens in 2014 for proof. Whether it is truly the will of the people or controlled chaos will be judged by history.
History shows us that action en masse nearly always yields worse conditions than those that triggered the action. France rose up against Louis and ended up after the Reign of Terror with Napoleon, the senators who killed Caesar to restore the republic ended up with the first Roman Emperor in Augustus, the Russians rebelled against Nicholas and got Stalin, the Chinese rebelled against Puyi and got Mao and so on through history.
Dec 12 2013: Very interesting question. Taking a cue from Malcolm Gladwell's latest book David and Goalith, the public cause starts of like the shepherd David with his sling of stones pitted against the formidable Goalith ( the establishment) with his shields,spears and armory. The tipping point happens when the majority in the public is personally affected by the issue and finds the burden unbearable. Such tipping points are major downturn in economy, loss of jobs and income, a major natural disaster (often man-made), political upheaval, change of leadership and imposition of laws which disrupt the acceptable social culture ( abolition of gay rights for instance) .The critical mass to cause widespread spontaneous combustion can be gauged by the conversations and restlessness in the student community, the white collar workers and minorities and to some extent social media. But such tipping points will vary from country /region/community as they are dependent on socio-cultural factors.
Harald Jezek 50+Dec 11 2013: I suggest Malcolm Gladwell's book, "The Tipping Point" on this topic.
Basically, there is no number that defines the tipping point. Sometimes it can be just a very specific event, at the right time and place that pushes the scale to one side or another.
Gladwell for example explains the tipping point on the example of Hush Puppies ( the shoes). In 1995 or so, hush puppies shoes were out of fashion, however some people in New York's SOHO decided to be different and wore hush puppies as a statement. Fashion designers soon picked up on that and included the shoes in their latest collections. This was the tipping point and hush puppies shoes sales increased 4x from 1995 to 1996.
Harald Jezek 50+
Dec 12 2013: I know Gladwell wrote "The Tipping Point" and Seth Godin "The Dip."
I appreciated your sharing the example from Gladwell's book. That example also reminded me of Derek Sivers' TED talk about the importance of "first followers." Here is the link to a very interesting talk about getting the ball rolling, as it were: http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement.html
Jan 10 2014: When the group sense of outrage over comes the individual's sense of responsibility. Mob stupidity will overwhelm individual common sense every time. It depends not on the moral value of the grievance.
Now, if you raise this to a level of a national response to a situation... It used to be a physical attack by another nation to elicit a counter response. Now, even that level of arousal is diminished. Much of this is due to the attempt by a few to arouse people. It is an old story, think about the boy who cried wolf. Mankind has become the villagers.
Jan 9 2014: I believe the world's leaders need to seek out and inspire people to become leaders themselves. People want, and are ready for change. However, they desperately need a giant boost of confidence in order to make them feel as though they have it within themselves to make a difference. Furthermore, most people have no idea where or how to begin. They also do not feel they have the time or money for it. Therefore, our leaders need be guiding them on a personal level. In addition, most of the middle and lower class people don't know that there are resources out there. We really need to be putting a lot more effort into bringing the information to them--help them help themselves, so that they may return the favor.
Jan 7 2014: Well, you would think that some tragic or terrible event would be it. It is hard to imagine what that event would have to be., After all, given the events at Sandy Hook, and other gun tragedies, we have not yet reached the point at which we, as a nation, really want to stop such tragedies.
So, I guess it will take something even more horrible than a bunch of innocent children getting shot for us to act en masse. The thought of some greater tragedy scares the crap out of me!
Jan 3 2014: This is an interesting question. I think that in the same sense that it takes something profoundly tragic or meaningful to happen to someone for them to change, the same type of occurrence must happen to a people. Usually they are called, yes, life-changing occurrences. This event must affect everyone, and impel them to take action.
A lot of times people also need leaders to propel action, but these circumstances are often random, or perhaps pent up over time. People as a whole have a higher breaking point than an individual person, but they often react the same. And perhaps culture, religion, race and gender have a lot to do with how a mass of people react to an injustice. Though I imagine that once they feel like a collective, they feel more powerful.
Dec 26 2013: An imminent apocalypse might motivate the general public to willingly abandon their comfort zone; anything less probably won't rouse them. As the once-mammoth middle class continues to dissolve and swell the ranks of the poor, we may, even in the lifetimes of some of us, bear witness to a serious shift in the economic status quo. In the not too distant future, a revolution may even visit us here, in what may well be the former land of milk and honey (products which, apparently, will disappear along with the bees, as did, in earlier times, the hapless dodo bird).
This scenario is beginning to feel less far-fetched than it did a few decades ago, and could, in fact, occur shortly after the demise of the honey bees.
Dec 26 2013: A common goal. A common goal is what makes people act together in a certain behavior. For example, if a certain country is unhappy with the way their government is run, protests and rebellions occur to improve their way of life. This is one example of public acting en masse. The feeling of self-righteousness and the need for justice for example, the brutal rape of a girl in India caused the public to rise up and act against discrimination of women and enforcing stricter laws and speedier judgement in India (2012 Delhi Gang Rape). Personally, I feel that the cost or the 'tipping point' for such actions were too high. An innocent life was brutalized and violated before actions were taken. Why weren't measures taken to prevent this before this incident? Must a horrific incident like this happen every time we realize something has to be done?
John DoeDec 26 2013: A combination of discomfort, social network connections, and headcount. First, people need discomfort. At least in the United States, life is quite comfortable. As long as people are met by their world with what is expected, there is no need to look any further. People are animals, and while we try to act civilized, we have generations of instinct driving us. We respond to pain and pleasure. We must feel something to act differently. The second piece is social network connections. One person, however passionate and able, can only do so much. They need to have people willing to listen to their message. People that are then willing to pass that message on. Without social networks, messages die before they can reach enough people to make a difference. This is where headcount comes in. Enough people need to become aware something, be passionate about it, and also be aware that others feel the same way. If a social network cannibalizes too much, it will not reach enough people. I believe the tipping point is as soon as enough people with the proper connections to sustain the spread of an idea become passionate about something, and enough of their network will also be passionate enough to continue the spread to eventually reach the needed number of people to enact change. This doesn't necessary require a majority, and isn't always the same. The tipping point can be as few as a dozen, or even one - assuming this one or a dozen have the right connections to spread the passion to the rest of the needed social network. The rest is time. I believe too often ideas stagnate in closed social networks and sit idle until it surfaces in enough disparate networks and the disparate networks become aware of each other.
Dec 22 2013: First time post. I sorta thought the OCCUPY NOW movement might be a tipping point, maybe not a revolutionary one but a bringing together of folks who might join a movement to lead to change. But, it had no direction...tried to address too many issues which led most people to be turned off while agreeing on some of the publicized issues. Before that, the Tea Party came on the scene but it has never gotten support from "main-stream" America. Point is we tend to rise up ever so close to an imaginary tipping point and then slide back down to complacency. Sad thing is that each time we rise toward that point, we may not rise quite as far. Several things have been mentioned here that may, or may not, cause the critical mass to erupt but I'm afraid America is too polarized into [at least] two camps such that they may never join in a common cause short of America being militarily invaded by another country.
Dec 15 2013: Greg, After reading books, studies, papers, etc .. I still hold up certain models to see if the theory hold water.
The combinations of great orators, ambitious men and hidden agendas have been with us throughout history. The socialist promises of Argentina in 1916 was welcomed by the people ... the government grew ... people came to the city for government jobs and the freebies .. the farmers came to town .. food was in demand ... money was taken from the rich and then from the middle class .. then total failure in a system that could never have worked. But lies and promises covered the agenda ... conversion to socialism/communism. The people bought in.
My point is that the public is not always aware .. a article came out last week that "You can keep your insurance" was voted the "lie" of the year based on that he knew since 2008 that this was not true. There should be outrage and the polls should reflect a no trust vote .. this has not happened. We should be mad as hell about Benghazi, NSA, failed diplomatic relations, getting spanked in world affairs, Homeland security, UN Article 21, Keynesian Economics, national debit .. the polls still show a 40% plus favorable rating.
We have become a nation of followers without the ability to question, analyze, or foresee the end goal. This is aided by the media who tells us what they want us to believe instead of reporting the facts and letting us decide .... failure to control congress through our votes has resulted in a elite society that has legislated themselves above the law ....
So here is my answer .. there is no big build up and riots in the street .. it is a gradual death .. one small issue at a time that is explained away by spin doctors that tell you it is not important and is necessary for your benefit. There is no critical mass, no tipping point, just a slow process that you accept until it is to late. Control the media, education, etc ..
My opinion. Bob.
Dec 11 2013: Thanks for the replies so far. But is it scientifically quantifiable? Does the NSA have a complex algorithm to gauge when critical mass has been reached? Or does it require annalists sat in front of mac pc's to gauge it? Is the reason why the public petition system on the UK Government website set at a 100,000 and not 3 million, because at 3 million votes, critical mass has been reached and the likely hood of such a large cohesive group realizing they have actually got some power, some sway is too much risk, therefore they dived public responses into 100,000 person segments. What is the science behind public action that the Government implements?
Dec 12 2013: If they do such tracking, I would guess they are attentive to whether certain key people, or types of people, are in the mass thus far gathered. Clay Shirky in Here Comes Everybody, for example, distinguishes between those in a single basic group and "superconnectors" who belong to several groups.
Further, the following paper may be useful for its content and its bibliography: http://www.roundtree7.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/1108.2455v1.pdf
Dec 11 2013: Quantifying emotional processes is difficult, and only grows more difficult when you're dealing with a group of people instead of an individual.
More often then not, the underlying emotions are a powder keg, while a specific event serves as a spark, a tipping point if you will. It typically takes place in the cities, as opposed to the countryside.
In democracies you often see a gradual build up, while in dictatorships, you usually end up with it bursting all at once when people see their chance to stop being afraid and do something. Neither is guaranteed to actually do good in the long run, revolutions can backfire like nobody's business, but that's another matter.
It can be over just about anything that's important enough to a large group of people. Employment, cost of living, food/water shortages and oppression seem pretty universal, while religion, ideology, or nationalism are not.
Dec 11 2013: My two cents.....
I believe the death of a street vendor is what set the fire in Tunisia.
So, I guess what is required is the spark.
With all fires, the timing and the placement of the spark is critical.
The very smallest of sparks can start a large dangerous fire as we see in the Middle East.
A 'controlled' & 'peaceful' burn is always preferred.
But even those can get out of hand.
Especially when there is too much fuel available....just waiting to ignite.
In society, which increases in fragmentation daily, fuel is continually being added.
In desiring change in society, we can look at our conditioning that leads us to a belief that we must rise up against an oppressor. We might view it on the scale of a children's game on a playground where one minority party is dominating the game to the detriment of the majority. Our conditioning suggests that we rise up against such an abusive authority and continue the game with revised rules. However, if there is a psychological revolution within each and every one of the majority, and if each simply acknowledges the lopsided state of affairs, they may decide to peacefully leave the minority to Their game and quietly begin playing another game which may be more to their liking.
Infinite avenues are available for change. Doubt only the ones previously taken.
Dec 11 2013: :-) I dig that saying.
Indeed you are the world and the world is you.
You are society and society is you.
It's easy to see, once this simple fact is experienced beyond an intellectual understanding, that the potential to impact the collective awareness/consciousness is just this side of infinite.
Scott Bell 30+


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String Pocket by Nisse Strinning
The perfect paperback bookshelf? We're thinking it might be. For two weeks, we've been obsessively clicking over to Swedish company String to look at the Pocket system. Aaron blogged the larger String system in February, but we love the little pocket shelf most of all. Designed by Nisse Strinning in the 1950s, the String Pocket was built specifically for paperbacks and mounts to the wall, making it a clever, expandable small-space solution...
Each system comes with three shelves and two sets of brackets, available in four colors: white, black, white/walnut, and light red. You can also get it with plexi side brackets. We love the look of the light red shelves - something about the proportions, depth of the shelves, and color seems so right.
After Aaron blogged String, we went looking for retailers. The most convenient one we found so far is the Scandinavian Design Center, which sells the String Pocket for $106.55 plus shipping to the US. If anyone knows of a retailer in the US, let us know in the comments below.
• To visit String's website, click here.
• To see the system online at Scandinavian Design Center, click here.
7 Comments
My paperbacks are so irregularly sized compared to that photo, but it does look great.
Love the string in the walnut/plexi version!
I am going to have to check out their links to Swedish furniture emporia...
I am glad that this is still in production, it is a less well known Swedish classic, like the Jetzon chair.
I don't get it - are all your paperbacks the same exact size?
I think maybe half of mine are that standard size, the rest would have to be placed sideways...
Paperback come in two sizes trade (the taller) and mass market (the more squat looking).
It looks like those shelves fit mass market.
Most of mine are trade, wonder if they make two sizes. I love the look with the careful fit.
brittanykate, sassy and DahliaCactus - the shelves are adjustable to accommodate different paperback sizes. You can move them up or down along the brackets.
Hi - has anyone found where to buy the large version of this in the US? --- any ideas how much it cost? --- we really like it -- Thanks


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Pasadena, Calif.–We are still more than an hour from kickoff on a perfect California Day. If the quality of the BCS championship game between Alabama and Texas matches the weather, then we are in for a great evening.
The buzz around this historic stadium is incredible. I took a lap around the Rose Bowl and found two sets of fans who can't wait for the kickoff. Alabama's confidence is high but the Texas people I talked to are also quietly confident they can hang with the SEC champions.
I picked Alabama to win this morning because at the end of the day I just don't think the Texas offensive line can handle the speed and athleticism of the Alabama defensive front seven. But I also remembered that the Texas offensive line is coached by former Georgia player Mac McWorther. He's one of the best around.
The Texas defense is coached by another Bulldog, Will Muschamp, who used to work for Nick Saban at LSU. Does Muschamp's knowledge of Saban's tendencies help the Longhorns? Can the Texas defense, which forced 35 turnovers this season, force Alabama into mistakes?
Both Brown and Saban have a chance to join a pretty small fraternity tonight–coaches who have won two national championships. Saban could be the first coach in Division I-A history to win championships at two different schools in the modern era.
And it wasn't that long ago (2004) that Texas fans questioned whether or not Brown had the right stuff to get the Longhorns to the top of football. But then he won a national championship in 2005, right on this very field. Now he is entrenched in Austin and making $5 million a year.
So who is going to win this game and why? Give me your picks before kickoff.
January 7th, 2010
7:07 pm
great article Tony
January 7th, 2010
7:08 pm
Bring it home Bama! Show 'em what the South and the SEC is all about.
January 7th, 2010
7:08 pm
Alabama wins. Texas is Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley, that's all they have on offense. It will not be enough to stop the Tide from rolling.
January 7th, 2010
7:10 pm
Sorry Tony I can't give a score this one I think will be very close or a blow out..RTR
January 7th, 2010
7:13 pm
Remember you heard it here first…Bama wins by 21 !!
January 7th, 2010
7:15 pm
The Gumpers by 7…….to much speed,defensive backs have big game
January 7th, 2010
7:17 pm
alabama 35 texas 17
January 7th, 2010
7:18 pm
Bama is the only bet to make, if'n you want to play it safe. However, read it here and weep Crimson faithful. Texas will be loosing going into the 4th quarter. Possession will change often in the 4th. Texas will be the last to score wining by 2 or less. Mark my words.
January 7th, 2010
7:20 pm
Alabama 34 Texas 20. Close game for 3 quarters then the bama power game takes over and puts it away.
January 7th, 2010
7:21 pm
" I think will be very close or a blow out"
Way to go out on a limb there Nostradamous. lol.
January 7th, 2010
7:23 pm
Alabama, 20-16.
January 7th, 2010
7:25 pm
texas wins. bama is going through the 2006 ohio st. syndrome. all they hear is how great they are and how texas can't win. plus, they believe they've already played and beaten their toughest opponent, much like osu felt in 06 after beating michigan. stars are aligned for an upset.
January 7th, 2010
7:28 pm
Texas 14
January 7th, 2010
7:41 pm
Tony what do you see as the final score?
January 7th, 2010
7:46 pm
Bama 23 Texas 20 in a competitive game. Bama keeps it in the SEC.
January 7th, 2010
7:48 pm
Texas 31 – Bama 29
January 7th, 2010
7:53 pm
Bama Rolls…..38-21
January 7th, 2010
8:05 pm
Bama 24-21
January 7th, 2010
8:10 pm
………..BAMA wins an easy one.
January 7th, 2010
8:13 pm
Hey Tony just want to say thanks for all your good work. I don't like what your write all the time..but I respect the fact that you tell us what you think…..I look forward to next year..Thanks ! .
January 7th, 2010
8:16 pm
Hook 'em Horns!!!! GO TEXAS!!!!
Texas 24 Alabama 17
January 7th, 2010
8:16 pm
'Bama wins, Mutts bask in reflected glory.
January 7th, 2010
8:21 pm
Mack Brown will cry more than Tebow after Bama wins.
January 7th, 2010
8:22 pm
It really doesn't matter does it? I mean, haven't you heard? The world is going to end in December of 2012 anyway. i know it's true. I saw someone say so on TV!!!
January 7th, 2010
8:26 pm
.Bama 37
Texas 9
January 7th, 2010
8:28 pm
When is Georgia going to get in the BCS Title Game? They are lagging behind 4 other SEC teams and need to catch up soon. Of course not too many second-tier programs like Georgia win the BCS National Title.
January 7th, 2010
8:28 pm
hell yeah, roll tide, sec rules,
oh and for you tech fans 30-24 hahahahahahah
January 7th, 2010
8:29 pm
bama 24 texas 17
January 7th, 2010
8:38 pm
Tech lost to UGA and lost their lame bowl game to a bunch of chunky boys from the Big10….please!
Roll Tide Roll
January 7th, 2010
8:49 pm
Oh! no we have a game ..strap in folks this could be a great game!
January 10th, 2010
7:20 pm
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text: Explore Tasmania Hobart Port Arthur The Freycinet Peninsula Launceston St Helens and the Bay of Fires Devonport Burnie The Tarkine Strahan Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park Franklin Lower Gordon Wild Rivers National Park Share STRAHAN is not just the only town and port on the west coast nor even the leading resort in the region, it is also one of the premier tourist destinations in Tasmania. The reason is twofold: its setting on Macquarie Harbour, a huge body of water over six times the size of Sydney's harbour; and the surrounding wilderness. Long before it became a launchpad into the southwestern wilderness, the harbour was home to a brutal, secondary convict settlement on Sarah Island between 1822 and 1830 – it can be visited on a Gordon River cruise. Convicts nicknamed the entrance to Macquarie Harbour, only 80m wide, Hells Gates. Abundant Huon pine, perfect for shipbuilding, facilitated logging and boatbuilding by convicts' trades, and continued to attract loggers after 1830. Strahan developed as an export port for the copper and lead fields in 1882 and was Tasmania's third-largest port in 1900 until larger ship sizes – not to mention wild weather – led to its demise. By 1970 the population had dwindled to three hundred, most involved in fishing for abalone, crayfish and shark. What changed its fortunes was the Franklin Blockade campaign in 1982. When protestors based themselves here, they put Strahan in the international spotlight for two months. Cruises on the Gordon River had run before this event, but the declaration of the World Heritage Area lured busloads of tourists to see the river for themselves. The West Coast Wilderness Railway added another sight to a growing list of attractions in 2003. Federal Resorts owns the railway, Gordon River Cruises and much of the central accommodation. In summer at least, Strahan has ceased to seem "real" in the normal sense – fishing is largely a sideshow to the town's tourism industry. What saves it from tackiness is that it remains an attractive place – the tourism infrastructure is far from the eyesore it could have been – and the surrounding wilderness is as compelling as ever. The Gordon River The West Coast Wilderness Railway Read More