488 



GRAMINE^. CEREALS 



each shoot that are seen above ground in spring, the actual stems 

 n being extremely short and quite close to the 



ground. A longitudinal section of the lower 

 portion of the young plant at //., Fig. 153 

 shows the disposition of its parts. 



It is seen that even in this stage the main 

 stem is surmounted by a visible ear, and it 

 will be readily understood that grazing the 

 crop by running sheep over it, or mowing off 

 the leaves in spring, does not injure either 

 the stem or the ear, as the latter are placed 

 so low down and are protected by the en- 

 veloping leaf-sheaths. 



In the middle of June or thereabout the 

 rapid extension of the internodes takes place 

 and the corn is then said to 

 shoot. The ear and lowest 

 internode in the bud begin 

 to grow first ; the rest of the 

 stem then develops in or- 

 derly succession from below 

 upwards and forces the ear 

 out of the uppermost leaf- 

 sheath. 



Germination, 'tillering,' and 

 ' shooting ' of spring-sown 

 crops proceed more or less 

 continuously without any dis- 



F,G. I54-I- Barley plant 6 inohes high, just *''!':' CeSSatioU Of grOWth, but 

 comuiencing to ' shoot.' <z Rhizoniatous stem ; aUtumn - SOWn rprpak ornw 

 I, primary stem; 2 and 3, ' tillers '— lateral ''"'■""'" t.O» n CCrcaiS gTOW 

 branches ; J seminal roots ; e adventitious roots. 



II. Same barley plant with leaves removed to 

 show primp ry stem and five oranches — 'tillers' — 

 springing from its lower nodes ; the primary stem 

 has begun to 'shoot,' i.e. its nodes are lengthen- 



ing rapidly ; a small ear is visible at its tip. 



little in winter. 



'Lodging' or 'Laying' 

 OF Crop. — It is noticed that 

 after 'shooting' into ear 



