34 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



AVENA FLAVESCENS 

 {Yellow Oat Grass). 



This grass produces forage of good quality, which is greedily 

 tiiken by cattle. It prospers in marl and calcareous soil, and in 

 all light land rich in humus, particularly in that which contains 

 lime. 



Avena Jlavescens does not flower until midsummer. In the 

 Thames valley it contributes no inconsiderable portion of the 

 herbage of the water meadows, and over the South of England 

 it affords a fair quantity for the scythe at hay time, while the 

 aftermath is abundant. The leaves are pale green ; flowers'golden 

 yellow, and they show conspicuously. 



In the absence of the flower the plentiful supply of soft 

 deflexed hairs upon the lower sheaths, together with the ciliated 

 ligule, are characteristics by which this grass may be recognised. 



Until recently it has been difficult to obtain sufficient seed of 

 Avena flavescens, and it is always exceedingly dear. Probably 

 many of the adverse opinions expressed concerning this grass 

 have residted from sowing in its stead that pestilent weed Aira 

 flexuosa, the seed of which is not altogether dissimilar from, but 

 has often been sold for, Avena flavescens by those who are not 

 familiar with the true article. Seed of the latter, however care- 

 fully saved, only germinates moderately well, and the high price 

 necessitates its sparing use when arranging the prescription for a 

 pasture. A full seeding of other grasses must be given, and then, 

 if expense be no object, a pound or two of Avena flavescens may 

 be added as a luxury. 



Both at Eothamstead and Kidmore this grass has shown 

 itself capable of holding its own very fairly without any manure 

 at all. Nitrate of soda and mineral manures, however, consider- 

 ably augment the produce. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given 

 on page 146, facing an illustration. 



