GRAIN AND ITS CULTIVATION. 145 



cannot find their way to the surface in time to injure the 

 plant seriously, before it gets beyond the reach of their 

 attacks. 



Varieties. Of these, Loudon mentions nine as being 

 well defined and entirely distinct, besides which there are 

 many local or recent sub-varieties. He says, 



" The White or Common oat is in most general cultiva- 

 tion in England and Scotland, and is known by its white 

 husk and kernel. 



The Black oat, known by its black husk and cultivated 

 on poor soils in the north of England and Scotland. 



The Red oat, known by its brownish red husk, thinner 

 and more flexible- stem and firmly-attached grains. It is 

 early, suffers little from winds, meals well, and suits windy 

 situations and a late climate. 



The Poland oat, known by its thick white husk, awnless 

 chaff, solitary grains, short white kernel, and short stiff straw. 

 It requires a dry warm soil, but is very prolific. 



The Black Poland oat is one of the best varieties; it 

 sometimes weighs 50 Ibs. to the bushel. 



The Friezland or Dutch oat has plump thin-skinned 

 white grains mostly double, and the large ones sometimes 

 awned. It has longer straw than the" Poland, but in other 

 respects resembles it. 



The Potato oat has large, plump, rather thick-skinned, 

 white grains, double 'and treble, with longer straw than 

 either of the two last. It is now almost the only kind 

 raised in the north of England and south of Scotland, and 

 brings a higher price in London than any other variety. 



The Georgian oat is a large-grained, remarkably profita- 

 ble variety and on rich soil, in good tilth, has produced more 

 than any other variety. 



The Siberian or Tartarian, is by some conceded a distinct 

 species. The grains are black or brown, thin and small, and 

 turned mostly to one side of the panicle, and the straw is 

 coarse antf reedy. It is little cultivated in England, but is 

 found very suitable for poor soils and exposed situations. 



The Winter oat is sown at the rate of two bushels per 

 acre in October, the plants are luxuriant and tiller Well, and 

 afford good winter and spring pasture for ewes and lambs, 

 and when these are shut out, it affords an ample- crop of 

 grain in August." 



The Imperial oat is the heaviest raised in the United 

 States, and by many is preferred to all others. It is a clean, 



7 



