4.5 
ous, and as usual, two-keeled. The Jodicules are two (figs. 3 and 9) obtuse and truncated, at the apex, 
and almost as long as the ovary. The stamens are three. The ovary is elliptical and glabrous: the 
stigmas are two, sessile and feathery. 
Flowering goes on as in Perennial rye-grass. The false fruit i. e. the caryopsis enveloped by the 
pales (fig. 4), is 5—6 mm. long, including the awn, about 10 mm.; the sfa/h (figs. 5 and 6) is some- 
what flat and very hairy: a tuft of short hair also occurs at the base of the lower pale, The caryopsis 
is spindle-shaped (fig. 7), compressed, and without a furrow on its inner face (fig. 8). 
The name Yellow or Golden oat-grass refers to the colour which the spikelets assume at the time 
of flowering. Yellow oat-grass should not be confounded with Narrow-leaved oat-grass, which is of much 
less value, 
This grass has only come into use in recent times. Although its value has long been recognised, 
the seed was not obtainable in commerce, Probably for this reason Schwerz makes no mention of it in his 
»Practical Agricultures. Recently, however, on Stebler’s advice, the seed merchants of Dauphiny have 
been induced to separate the seed, on a large scale, from Cocksfoot so that now the use of Yellow 
oat-grass has become quite general in Switzerland. 
Yellow oat-grass is very valuable for temporary and still more for permanent pastures ; 
it yields good fodder which is readily eaten by stock, gives a tolerably large produce in the 
first and second cuttings and lasts long. It can be cultivated on almost all classes of soil, 
except those of extreme types. The yield is certain whether the season be wet or dry. 
Three varieties are distinguished by botanists: — 1. the common variely, Avena flavescens, var. 
vulgaris Alefeld. 2. The large variety, A. f. var. major, Schrader. 3. The variegated variety, A. [. 
var. variegata, Gaudin, The second and third are rarer than the first variety. The variegated form 
is frequently met with on the Alps. At present the first variety is alone cultivated. 
Occurrence, Climate, Soil, Manure. Yellow oat-grass is indigenous — to almost all Europe. 
except Lapland; to Africa. in Algeria; to Asia, in Caucasus, Georgia, Armenia, Siberia, and Kamschatka, 
It is not indigenous to VN. America. It is common in England, but not common in the south and middle 
of Ireland and scarce in Scotland, Its north limit in Britain is Aberdeen, Forfar, and Stirling, in Ireland 
the 55 or 56 parallel. In England it ascends from the sea level to an altitude of 400—600 feet. 
It occurs frequently in grass-land and on roadsides. It is very common on good pastures in valleys 
and low lying lands, on the slopes, summits, and valleys of the Alps and Jura, extending to high alli- 
tudes. Langethal states that its occurrence indicates grass-land of good quality. 
On the Alps it reaches the following altitudes: — Reculet (Jura) 4,900 ft.; Fimberthal 5,900 ft. 
Upper Engadine 5,900 ft.; Langwies and Churwalden 4,260 ft. According to Briigger, the normal form 
is rarely met with above 4,600 ft.; at greater altitudes the variegated variety, Avena f. var. varie- 
gata, replaces it ascending to 7,800 ft. 
This grass succeeds best in the vine regions. Drought stunts it somewhat, but on 
the whole it is not very readily affected. Stagnant water is injurious, and in moist seasons 
yellow oat-grass is less abundant than usual. 
This grass succeeds best on marly or calcareous soils which are rich in humus, mo- 
derately moist and deep. It also thrives on loams and good clays, as well as on loamy 
sands. In Dauphiny, where the soils are rich and calcareous, it is very abundant and 
reaches great perfection, its culms often attaining a height of 8—4 ft. It can be cultivated 
on the better kinds of drained soils containing humus, especially when they are marled or 
limed. On dry poor land the produce is very scant. 
According to Way and Ogston, 1000 lbs, of hay remove from the soil: — 
Nitrogen. . . . 410.4 Ibs, Magnesia. . . . 4,4 lbs. 
Phosphoric acid . 42 ,, bLimem yf <4. bias 
Potato © 7 i. #04 ©, Sulphuric acid . . 4.8 ,, 
Site os i OK Sere ee tly bd PACU 
Name. 
History. 
Agricultural 
value. 
Varieties. 
Geographical 
distribution. 
Habitat. 
Limits of 
altitude. 
Climate. 
Soil. 
Substances 
removed from 
the soil. 
