Investigations at Burlington, Colorado. 



67 



increased but slightly. Although the soil was very hard and dry and was 

 removed with exceedingly great difficulty, it could be plainly seen that the 

 wonderfully developed roots thoroughly occupied every cubic inch where 

 available water was present. 



Oats, Avena sativa. 



Oats were also examined on June 12. The crop had an average height of 

 10 inches, although some plants were 13 inches tall. The tillering was not 

 heavy; 2 or 3 tillers was an average number, while very rarely more than 5 

 occurred. Young tillers were infrequent. While the crop was in fairly 



Fig. 30. — Oats at maturity, Burlington, 1921. 



good condition, many plants were somewhat fired at the base. Some of the 

 older leaf-tips showed effects of frost injury. As a result of the drought 

 the leaves were more or less rolled, but scarcely to the extent of those of wheat 

 or barley, some of which did not become turgid at night. 



Some of the longest roots extended to a depth of 2.4 feet where very 

 dry soil occurred. The working depth was the same as for wheat, 1.3 feet. 

 The root habit, as regards surface lateral spread, abundance of roots at all 

 angles to the vertical, and profound branching to the very root-ends, was 

 very similar to that of wheat, but of shghtly less degree in every respect. 



