BRITISH CEREALS. 29 



spiral advance up through the soil into the air. And as soon as 

 the seedlings are fairly developed we can recognise them as 

 follows : 



Leaves rolled to the right. 

 Ribs thirteen or fewer. 

 Sheath glabrous. 



Embryo with three roots. Oats. 

 Leaves rolled to the left. 

 Ribs thirteen or fewer. 



Sheath hairy. Leaves green. 

 Ligule long. 



Embryo with three roots. Wheat 

 Sheath hairy. Leaves reddish. 

 Ligule short. 



Embryo with four roots. Rye. 

 Ribs eighteen or more. 

 Sheath glabrous. 



Embryo with five or six roots. Barley. 



This looks clear enough, and instead of occupying space with 

 further explanation we can pass on to the next stage, when the 

 seedlings have become sturdy young plants with their leaves 

 fully developed. In this state we can again recognise the growing 

 crop without waiting for the flowers. 



Leaves auricled. 



Auricle large. Ribs eighteen to twenty-four. Barley. 

 Auricle medium. Ribs eleven to thirteen. 



Sheath hairs short. Wheat. 

 Auricle small. Ribs eleven to thirteen. 



Sheath hairs long and short intermixed. Rye. 

 Leaves not auricled. Oats. 



In lime the flowers begin to form on the upper portion of the 

 stem by what is known as monopodial division, and before the 

 opening of the florets identification becomes easy by the branching 

 of the inflorescence, the disposition of the spikelets, and the 

 character of the glumes. In Oats the flowers are arranged in 



