ôiii IV CiiNKKliKNCl-: IMKIlNAÏlnWI.K liK i.KNKTKJLE. 



Si r Ir.jM fiilua ^atica peut flre croisé avec l'.l. steriUs ciilla. il peut se 

 piddiiirc loiile une descendance avant des caractères mixtes fort utiles. 



L'.l. al)i/y:sinirti gagnerait à éire croisée par 1".!. .s/;7(/osrt bien Mi|)érieure. 

 Mais en matière d'hybridation, il va beaucoup plus à allendrede l'expcrimenla- 

 tion que de la discussion des vues théoriipies. 



ON THE ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED OATS 



Unlil recenlly, Arenx fuhoi lias been regarded as Ihe anceslor ol" tlie culti- 

 valed Oats comprised under Ihe term An-na saliva. 



Study of the wild forms cl' ,lwn« s^eri/w has led nie to considrr thaï Ihe 

 cultivated oats of the .Mediterranean countries are descended froni tins wild 

 species. 



The Algerian Oat, and the Oats of Italy. possess morphological characters 

 found in Avena sterilis. 



Avena barbala has given rise lo some cultivated forms. as Avena slnijusa. 



Thèse three wild types of Avena appear to hâve been modilied by cullural 

 inlluences. In varions cultures of the Cereals. of Flax. etc., may be found 

 mutalional forrns which nearly a|)pr()ach cultivated types. One séries of forms 

 is characterized by the réduction of the hairs on the glmiies. in nnothor séries 

 the awn is reduced, and a third séries is distinguished by the ~(ilidily (d'Ilic 

 rachis, which bccomcs gradually Icss arliculaled. A variation of the nature ol' 

 a monslrosity may also be ol)served, in wliirli Ihe (jlume is less comiiact. so 

 that the caryopsis falls oui bel'ore inatiiril\. This mutation gives rise lo 

 " Naked Oats ". 



In conclusion, at leasl three wild .species of Avena, under Ihe intluence of 

 culture, may acquire characters lUting them for cultivation. Thèse three 

 species préserve the ancestral characters by which they are adapted lo différent 

 climates 



-loena fait/a gives rise lo Oats ada|)ted to lemperate and mountainous 

 régions; Avena s^levilis, to Oats adapted lo the Southern countries. and lo saline 

 soils; Ai'ena barbala, to races adapted lo dry countries. 



