126 FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRICULTURE. 



stem split on the side opposite the leaf blade. Wheat, 

 rye and barley all belong to the same tribe of the 

 grass family, but oats belong to a different tribe. 



There are a number of well-known pasture and 

 meadow grasses as well as several troublesome weeds 

 which belong to the same tribe as wheat, rye and bar- 

 ley. The tribe, Aveneae, however, has scarcely an- 

 other member of any great importance except oats, 



A GOOD STAND OF OATS. 



although it contains one member that is a serious pest 

 known as Avena fatua, or wild oats. 



Wheat, rye and barley all resemble each other in 

 the general shape and formation of the seed head. 

 They all produce their flowers on unbranched stemless 

 spikelets, on alternate sides of the main stalk, thus 

 forming a compact head which is known as a spike. 

 Oats on the other hand show no resemblance to the 

 sort of seed head produced by wheat, rye or barley, 

 and indeed, show considerable variation within the 

 tribe. 



