CEREAL GRASSES. 31 



" White Oats are separable into two principal varie- 

 ties, — the late and the early. Early oats are best 

 adapted for the higher class of soils, as the greater yield 

 per acre more than compensates for the inferiority of 

 the straw. Their earliness renders them very desirable 

 for late districts ; but the liability of some to shed their 

 seeds in high winds, renders their cultivation in exposed 

 situations extremely hazardous. Late or common oats 

 ripen later, have thicker husks, and less meal, but of 

 better quality; they are not usually so prolific; they 

 are less liable to shed their seeds in high winds, the 

 straw is superior, and they can be more successfully 

 cultivated on inferior soils. Black oats are of two 

 kinds ; the one, the Tartarean, having the ear only on 

 one side the straw, and the other, the old or common 

 black, with black seeds, but having a spreading ear, 

 similar to the white varieties. Dun oats are to all ap- 

 pearance hybrids between the last-mentioned variety and 

 one or other of the white sorts; they are late and hardy, 

 have superior meal and straw, and are well adapted to 

 clayey and cold-bottomed soils." 



Potato Oat has a compact ear, round and very white 

 seeds, a thin husk, easily detached, and short straw. It 

 grows so fast, that it is a common saying that if potato 

 oats are as long as ordinary stubble when the ear makes 

 its appearance, the crop will come to a good bulk at har- 

 vest. When fully ripe the seeds are so loose, that how- 

 ever carefully the crop is reaped, great loss is sustained, 

 and in high w r ind all the upper grain is sure to fall. It 

 is therefore better to cut this kind a little green. 



Sandy Oat has taller stiffer stems, smaller grain, and 

 less rich meal than the last variety, but the meal weighs 

 well and is liked by bakers. It is not a good kind for 



