OATS 



25 



or hot Tvater as required, and by 

 first heating the oats for a few 

 minutes in warm water at about 

 120° F. ; for if the cokl seed were 

 dipped into water at 133°, they would 

 too rapidly lower its temperature. 

 This method requires the use of an 

 accurate thermometer. 



31. Insect pests. — Insects are 

 the same as those of wheat, ex- 

 cept that the oat is not attacked 

 by the Hessian fly, and that 

 granary insects do less harm to 

 the oat grain, protected as it is 

 by its enveloping hull. A serious 

 pest of the oat plant in the West 

 and Southwest is the green-bug 

 {Toxoptera graminum, Fig. 9). 



The green-bug is a plant-louse of green color and verj' small 

 size, that sucks the juices from the young plant. It has manj- 



natural enemies which, after the 

 early cool part of the season, 

 usually keep it in subjection. 

 One of these enemies, a lady-bug 

 beetle (Fig. 10), has sometimes 

 been artificially bred and dis- 

 tributed as a means of com- 

 bating the green-bug, especially 

 before the weather has become 

 warm enough to bring forth 

 naturally many of the enemies 

 of this pest. 



Another parasite on this plant- 

 louse is a tiny four-winged insect 



Fig. 9. — Greex-bug (Tox- 

 optera graminum) ; Wing- 

 less Adult. 



Greatly enlarged. (After 

 S. J. Hunter.) 



Fig. IC. — Two St-\ge.s of .\ L.\r.Y- 

 bcg which destboys " Geees- 



EUGS." 



Right, adult beetle ; left, larva. 

 Enlarged. (After S. J. Hunter. J 



