HOW TO GROW GOOD CORN. 171 



first to be gaining strength in some few of the 

 specimens: — 



1st. A gradual decrease in the quantity of hairs 

 on the pales. 



2nd. A more tumid grain, in which the pales were 

 less coarse and the awn not so strong and rigid, and 

 less black than in the wild example. 



3rd. A gradual increased development of kernel or 

 flower. 



The seeds of 1855 crop, without selection, were 

 treated in the same manner during the winter, and 

 were sown in the spring of 1856, the resulting crop 

 in August of the same year presenting the following 

 curious circumstances : — 



1st. Avena fatua (typical wild oat), with large 

 loose panicles of flowers,* thin hairy florets, with a 

 bent awn twisted at the base. Five parts of crop. 



2nd. Avena fatua, var. satlva, with loose pani- 

 cles of flowers, florets quite smooth, tumid, with or 

 without straight awns, some few examples slightly 

 hairy towards the base. This is the potato-oat type. 

 Six parts of crop. 



3rd. Avena fatua, var. satlva — Panicles more com- 

 pact, flowers inclining to one side, grains more tumid 

 than 2nd, quite devoid of hairs, awn straight. These 

 present the type of the white Tartarian oat. Twelve 

 parts of crop. Eig. 2. See plate. 



* Some examples of this plant, gathered at Fraruilode, in the Vale 

 of Gloucester, io the past autumn, gave as many as 750 seeds to a 

 root, from which its rate of increase as a weed may be imagined. 



