72 OATS. 



bread in some countries ; and is used also a^ 

 food for hogs. It has, besides, many medici- 

 nal virtues. This grain is always sown in the 

 spring of the year, in dry weather. Some of 

 the early sorts are ready in nine or ten weeks. 

 It is sometimes sown at two operations, and 

 afterwards rolled, to press the earth close, and 

 level it for the mower. It should be rolled 

 when it has been up two or three weeks, which 

 causes the plant to produce a greater number 

 of stems. 



OATS.- This is a beautiful variety of the 

 corn tribe. The grain remains not in its case 

 or ear, as in the former sorts, but, starting 

 thence, hangs in single kernels, depending from 

 the stalk, having a very light and graceful ap- 

 pearance. The minute seeds of various grasses 



