TARTARIAN OATS 



495 



The origin of the cultivated oats is unknown and none of the 

 forms have been met with in a truly wild state. 



Two races are recognised which are sometimes treated as 

 distinct species, viz. : — 



Race I. Common Oat {Avena sativa L.) with open spread- 

 ing panicles (Fig. 157), and 



Race II. Tartarian Oats {Avena orientalis Schreb.) with 

 contracted one-sided panicles (Fig. 158). 



The spikelets usually contain two or three flowers, the upper 

 one of which is liable to produce either a small grain or none at 

 all. The flowering glume of the lowest flower frequently bears a 

 straight awn (Fig. 156) which when strong is 

 a sign of degeneration of the stock or an 

 evidence of the coarseness of the variety- 

 There is considerable diversity among 

 the different varieties of cultivated oats in 

 (i) the colour and thickness of the husk 

 or flowering glume ; (2) the form of the 

 grain ; (3) the period of ripening ; (4) the 

 length of the straw, and (5) the tendency 

 to shed the grain when ripe. 



For meal the grain should be somewhat 

 short and plump, with a thin, clean white 

 husk: the varieties with long grains are -^•'./^ 'hree fliw'erl 

 best adapted for feeding stock, and the colour of the husk is of 

 little importance. In some districts black oats are preferred 

 apparently with nosufficient reason, except that in such localities 

 the black varieties are the most productive and the most familiar. 



The early varieties give a larger yield of grain, but less straw 

 than the late varieties. These oats, which are easily shed when 

 ripe, have thin husks as a rule and are of better quality for the 

 manufacture of oatmeal. 



Late varieties possess longer grains, more adapted for feeding 

 stock, with thickish husk and a comparatively small proportion 



Fig. 156. — Spikelet of common 

 cultivated oat containing tliree 

 flowers, e Empty glumes ; /I, 



