OATS 29 



area in Red Rust-proof oats and a part in some variety 

 ripening either earlier or later. 



LABORATORY EXERCISES 



Young plants in the field. 



(1) From a number of plants of wheat, oats, rye, and barley, 

 pulled and mixed together, separate all the oat plants by the ab- 

 sence of clasps (auricles) on the leaves. Repeat until young oat 

 plants are readily recognized. 



(2) With specimens used in (1) or growing in the field, write 

 out other means of distinguishing leaves of oats from those of each 

 of the other small grains. 



(3) Compare several varieties of oats, if available, as to differ- 

 ences in appearance of the young plants. 



(4) Dig four young plants sprung from seed buried deeply 

 and four others from seed lightly covered ; record for each plant 

 of each class the length of that section of root between the parent 

 grain and the crown, or place where most stems originate. 



Examination of bloom. 



(5) Pinch off the smaller flower in a spikelet, and treat the 

 larger as follows : With pin or small forceps open the incurved 

 transparent inner huU, or palet, before the pollen has been shed, 

 and make a drawing, showing the number and position of stamens 

 and stigmas. 



Crossing oat flowers. -' 



(6) If practicable to execute No. (5) at 8 to 10 a.m., practice 

 opening several flowers in such a way as to give least injury to the 

 transparent inner covering or palet ; when successful, remove 

 with a pin the three unopened anthers ; carefully replace the 

 palet ; cover with a very small paper bag ; about 5 in the after- 

 noon of the same day reopen the same flower and insert on the 

 stigmas an anther that shows loose grains of pollen ; replace the 

 palet, and a week later note whether a crossed grain has formed. 

 Repeat this exercise several times. 



