126 



YELLOW OAT GRASS. 



The YELLOW OAT GRASS (Avena favescens), Fig. 105, 

 can scarcely, perhaps, be regarded as naturalized here. 

 It is a perennial plant of slow 

 growth and medium quality, 

 cultivated to some extent in 

 France, and suitable for dry 

 meadows and pastures. It is 

 sometimes regarded as a weed. 

 It fails, if cultivated alone, but 

 succeeds with other grasses, 

 and is said to be the most 

 useful for fodder of any of the 

 oat grasses. It seems to grow 

 best with the crested dog's 

 tail and sweet-scented vernal. 

 It contains a larger proportion 

 of bitter extractive than most 

 other grasses, and for that rea- 

 son is recommended by some 

 English writers as a valuable 

 pasture grass. It flowers in 

 July. Fig. 106 represents the 

 flower of this grass magnified. 

 PURPLE WILD OAT (Avena 

 sir iota) is found on rocky, 

 shaded hillsides, 

 from New Eng- 

 land and New 

 York, northward. 

 Stems tufted, from 

 one to two feet 

 high, and slender ; 

 leaves narrow ; 

 panicle loose and 



Fip. 105. Yellow Oat Grass. 



Fig. 106. 



