CHAPTER XI 

 AVENA (Oats) 



Habit of Plant. — Oats are annual. The large majority of 

 varieties are summer annuals; a very few are winter annuals. 



Roots. — The root system of oats is very similar to that of 

 wheat. The dense, fibrous growth, which in wheat occurs in 

 about the first foot of soil, is somewhat deeper in oats. 

 The roots of oats extend to a depth of 4 or 5 feet. To quote 

 from Ten Eyck, "Extending down from the center of the 

 root crown of each plant in this example was observed a short 

 rudimentary root stem which ended abruptly with a slight 

 enlargement from which radiated a few short, fine, wire-like 

 roots. Often the old seed coat was found clinging to the 

 enlarged terminus. The depth at which the seed was 

 planted determined the length of the lower root stem. The 

 explanation of this rudimentary growth is that the seed was 

 planted too deep, or below the point at which soil conditions 

 were most favorable for starting the young roots; hence, the 

 root crown formed considerably above the seed, the lower root 

 stem remaining rudimentary and the little rootlets which 

 started from it ceasing to grow early in the season." 



Stems. — As compared with wheat, the stems of oats are 

 larger in diameter and softer. The number of joints in the 

 culm varies from four to eight. 



Leaf. — Oats produce abundant leaves. They are broader, 



as a rule, than those of wheat. The leaf sheath is closed. 



The ligule is short, oval, and with distinct teeth, thereby 



differing from wheat, rye, and barley. The young leaves are 



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