FARM CROPS. 127 



The seed head of oats bears its flowers on alternate 

 sides of the main stem as does wheat, rye or barley, 

 but these flowers are borne upon branches which vary 

 in length and position. This arrangement forms a 

 head which is called a panicle; this may be open or 

 closed, one-sided or symmetrical, since each spikelet is 

 borne at the end of a limber stem, and these stems are 

 of variable length. 



Oats The Plant. The oat plant is, generally 

 speaking, more quickly influenced by a fertile soil and 

 a favorable season of growth than the other members 

 of the grass family. Hunt* states that the height of 

 the oat plant probably averages three and one-half 

 feet. The Kansas Stationf shows that as an average 

 of three years, and with thirteen varieties the height of 

 the plant was 40 inches. Differences in height are 

 found, however, even among different individuals of 

 the same variety. 



Upon germination the oat plant pushes what ap- 

 pears to be a single, tightly rolled pale green leaf 

 through the soil to the surface. This leaf is soon 

 supplemented with a second leaf, and within a com- 

 paratively short time with several more. For a con- 

 siderable length of time this appearance of the plant 

 indicates nothing but leaves, which are spreading 

 rather than upright in their character of growth. As 

 soon, however, as the oat plant begins to " shoot," 

 which means a lengthening of the internodes of the 

 stem, and a pushing up of the seed head, the whole 

 appearance of the plant changes. The leaves which 

 were formerly bunched together close to the ground 

 are now scattered along the stalk, and the whole plant 

 appears somewhat sparsely leaved and naked. This 

 appearance is intensified as maturity approaches, since 

 the lower leaves lose their activity and color, and be- 

 come shriveled and dry. The head and upper stem 

 remain green the longest, although this condition is 

 less marked with oats than with wheat, rye or barley. 



* Cereals in America. t Bulletin No. 166. 



