NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 157 



A-VENA (OAT.) 



Its glumes are from 2-7 flowered, longer than the florets ; 

 palese bifid, toothed with a twisted awn upon the back. 



The common oat is susceptible of cultivation in high lati- 

 tudes, where it is the most profitable grain. In warm climates 

 bears a lighter grain. The stem of the oat is quite nutritious, 

 and forms, with meal, an excellent feed for horses. 



The oat plant when sun-dried, 



Contains water, 9.58 



Ash, 2.37 



Calculated drj-, 2.61 



. The ash of the straw, consists of 



Silica, 13.399 



Earthy and alkaline phosphate, 8.902 



Carbonate of lime, 7.254 



Magnesia, 0.448 



Potash 60.035 



Soda, 3.622 



Sulphuric acid, 5.754 



Chlorine, 0.581 



This analysis was calculated without carbonic acid or or- 

 ganic matter. These amounted to in carbonic acid 6.140 ; 

 organic matter 2.400. 



In a ton of straw there will be removed from the soil in, 



Silica, 21.907 Ibs. 



Phosphates, 14.555 



Carbonate of lime, 11.868 



Magnesia, 0.732 



Potash, 98.157 



Soda, 5.921 



Sulphuric acid, 9.408 



Chlorine, 0.950 



163.498 Ibs. 



The amount of ash in an unripe straw is greater than after 

 it has ripened, which is undoubtedly owing to the transfer of 

 matter from it to the grain. The ash of an unripe straw 

 amounted to 3.15, which calculated from a perfectly dry 

 straw, amounts to 3.48. 



