194 
HABITS AND LATIN NAMES OF BRITISH PLANTS. 
ment the seed is gradually insinuated into the earth; and Linnaeus informs us, 
that if the Bearded Oat be housed with other grain, the glumes will very soon be 
found empty from the like procedure. It is sometimes so prevalent amongst 
Barley as almost entirely to choke it; on such occasions it has been thrashed out 
and sold for Horse-Corn. It may be extirpated by repeated fallowing, or laying 
down the land in Grass. When mixed with Wheat this grain is highly objection¬ 
able to the miller. In Spring it is scarcely distinguished from the Wheat-plants, 
so that it cannot be selected and weeded out; hence the necessity of attending to 
the purity of the seed-Corn. 
Avena flavescens, Yellow Oat-Grass.—Mr. Swayne says it is the best of the 
genus for the use of the farmer; and Mr. Salisbury reports favourably of it. 
Though Mr. Sinclair proves its produce not to be very great, nor its nutritive 
qualities considerable, combined with other Grasses he recommends it for elevated 
and exposed situations. It probably may be more acceptable to Sheep than to 
other cattle. Several of our pasture Grasses are injured by drought acting upon 
the stalk, not molesting the root, but withering the succulent base of the straw 
which arises from the upper joint; in consequence of which the panicle and 
connecting straw dry away, while the foliage and lower leaves remain uninjured. 
None are so obnoxious to this injury as the present species, and in some seasons 
almost the whole of its panicle will be withered in a field of surrounding verdure, 
especially where the herbage is reserved for mowing. It is capable of being 
manufactured into straw plat for hats, equal in fineness and evenness to the 
Leghorn. The Society of Arts, both in London and Dublin, have bestowed 
honorary rewards for this discovery. 
Avena pubescens, Downy Oat-grass.—This species is disagreeable to cattle, not 
only mechanically, but, according to Mr. Salisbury, from the foliage being 
extremely bitter. 
Avena pratensis , Meadow Oat-grass, Narrow-leaved Oat-grass.—This species 
is remarkable for thriving, either on exposed dry situations, or under irrigation; 
but its produce and nutritive powers are inferior to those of many other secondary 
Grasses. 
Azalea .—From u&foos, dry ; as preferring an arid soil. 
Woodside , near Liverpool , 
Oct 12, 1838. 
