158 



NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



The oat is an exhausting crop to soil, but for that reason it 

 should be widely cultivated where the climate suits it. It is 

 for this reason that it is so valuable for food, both for man 

 and beast. 



In this family we find the 



AVENA (DANTHONIA) SPICATA. WILD OAT GRASS. (fig. 8.) 



It has an erect pubescent 

 stem, and tubular pubescent 

 leaves, with sheaths bearded at 

 the throat. Glume usually six 

 flowered, longer than the spike 

 margins membranaceous. Pa- 

 leae two; exterior one lanceo- 

 late villous, the sides terminat- 

 ing in two awns, with the spi- 

 ral one upon the back. Com- 

 mon in the middle country 

 from Carolina to Georgia. 



It grows in dry sunny pas- 

 tures, aud attains a height of 

 twelve to eighteen inches. It 

 is of but little value for pas- 

 turage or hay. 



