314 THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



or the Hebrews, as was wheat. Neither the ancient Greeks nor 

 the ancient Romans cultivated them. They were likewise 

 unknown to the ancient Chinese or the people of India. 



All evidence points to eastern temperate Europe, and pos- 

 sibly Tartary, in western Asia, as the probable place of their 

 first cultivation. They were cultivated by the prehistoric 

 inhabitants of central Europe, but did not appear, it is believed, 

 until long after wheat and barley. Hence they were less 

 important in the early history of our race than either of the last 

 named crops or rye. When central and northern Europe 

 became civilized the cultivation of oats became vastly more 

 important, becoming in some of the cool, moist climates north 

 the most important cereal used for man's food. In Scotland it 

 occupies one-third the land in cultivated crops, excluding land 

 in pastures and meadows. In Ireland it constitutes one-half of 

 all the grain and green crops. 



Practicums. 



429. Method of Cross-Fertilization. — Cross-fertilization in oats may be 

 effected in a manner similar to that of wheat. (196) Remove all spikelets of the 

 panicle which are not to be crossed and remove the upper flower of the remaining 

 spikelet and cross the lower one. 



430. Plant in the Field. — Each student should be given a printed or 

 tj'pewritten sheet, as indicated bslow, and requested to describe two or more 

 varieties of oats growing in the field by underscoring the adjective which most 

 nearly applies to the condition found. 



1, Height of culm: average of ten culms to tip of outer glume on uppei 



spikelet . . . 



2. Vigor of plant: strong; medium; weak. 



3 Diameter below panicle : average of ten culms . , . 



4 Depth of furrow below panicle : furrowed; medium; smooth. 



5 Upper part of culm: solid; semi-solid; hollow. 



6. Wall of culm: thick; medium; thin. 



7. Color of culm: light yellow; yellow; bronze. 



8. Foliage: scanty: medium; abundant. 



9. Rust : leaves, per cent , . . ; culms, per cent • • « 

 10. Smut: percent . , , 



"V Panicle: open; partly closed; closed. 



VT. Flowering glumes : beardless ; partly bearded. 



