138 



AGRICULTURE 



next largest, or medium-sized clasps. They are unlike 

 those of barley and rye, and bear on 

 their edges a few very fine, short hairs. 

 Rye has smaller clasps than either 

 wheat or barley. The oat plant has no 

 clasps at all. 



The flowers of the small- grains. 

 Wherever there is a single grain of oats 

 or wheat, there has once been a flower. 

 It had no brilliant color, but resembled 

 a flower only in that it had the essential 



FIG. 87. PART OF A parts, that is, stamens and pistils. The 

 YOUNG RYE PLANT, n c , 



SHOWING SMALL S reen flower of oats, wheat, rye, or bar- 



"CLASPS" ley before the grain has begun to form 



contains in each grain place three stamens or pollen-cases 

 and two feathery, plume-like stigmas (Fig. 10). 



Oats, wheat, and barley do not 

 need bright colors and nectar in 

 their flowers to attract insects, 

 because they are self-pollinated. 

 That is, the pollen in any one 

 flower fertilizes the pistil in that 

 same flower. Self-pollination does 

 not seem to injure plants that are 

 accustomed to it. It keeps varie- 

 ties of wheat or of oats from mix- FIG. 88. PART OF A YOUNO 

 ing With each Other through the WHEAT PLANT, SHOWING 



" CLASPS " BORDERED WITH 



carrying of pollen by wind or in- HAIRS 



sects. Thus red oats do not naturally cross with Burt or 



Turf oats. However, rye may be cross-pollinated. 



