i8o] OAT straw ; as likewise for ewes, before they drop their lambs, whether al- lowed in the straw, or chopped ; which latter method, however, is more economical. IX. The Tartarian, or Reed- oat, is conjectured to be a species unnoticed by Linn-EUs. It ap- pears to be well calculated for land that has been exhausted by an in- iudicious rotation of crops, and will also thrive on a stiff soil, where the common white-orit does not pros- per. Its grain is much inferior to the generality of oats : nor does it ripen so early, or afford an equal proportion of meal ; but its straw is very luxuriant, and the grain is not easily scattered by the wind. X. The Friesland, and Poland- oats, which have received their names from those respeflive coun- tries, are chiefly distinguished by their coming early to maturity. They, however, thrive only on the Tichest soils j ea.slly shed their grain, ^vhen ripe ; and afford a very in- different meal, though they some- times yield an astonishing increase. The quantity usually sown is, seven or eight bushels of the Poland, or .six of the Friesland-oais, per acre, in the month of March or April : — these species are chiefly consumed in feeding horses. Tiiere is a variety of the Poland grain, first raised in Scotland, and Hvhich is called Church' s-oat. It is greatly esteemed in Northumber- land, as being tiie best of the ear- lier sorts, hitherto known, for sow- ing on loamy lands in good condi- tion. This variety is very produc- tive, and ripens early : it is known 'by tiie grains being remarkably short, round, plump, and well fill- ed : it yields an excellent meal, 'and is easily converted into flour.
- ' 'Qats arc subjeft to the sviut, and
OAT various other diseases, and also io the depredations of numerous in- sefts, in common with wheat, bar- ley, &:c. (^ee vol. i. p. J 71, and vol. ii. pp. 65. 66) ; but they are most materally injured by a kind of grub, which peculiarly attacks them. This pernicious insecr comes into existence, if the autumn has been warm, toward the end of Oc- tober 5 and progressively increases in size till the beginning of win- ter 5 during which it continues sta- tionary, without being injured by the most intense cold. Toward the end of February, the grub re- commences its devastations, and gradually becomes larger till early in Mav, when it is more than an inch long, and one-third of an inch in circumference. At this period, it commits the greatest depreda- tions, cutting, in a very short time, through the strongest stalks of grain. In the summer, the oat-grub un- dergoes similar transformations with ifhe caterpillar, "While in its rep- tile state, this pernicious inseft is almost invulnerable, and the fly is equally hardy. The only period, when it is susceptible of injury, is during its passage from the state of a grub to that of a chrj-salis, about the end of IvTay, or early in June, at which time rain and cold wea- ther equally accelerate its destruc- tion. And, as considerable quan- tities of rain fall during those raontlis, almost the whole race pe- rishes, excepting such as may have settled in soft, dry mole-hills, or on the coarse noxious weeds vege- tating at the sides of ditches ; and the seeds of which are wafted into the contiguous fields, whither the eggs of the grubs are conveyed. These destructive inserts appear eveiy year> but chiefly ia wet situa- tions ;
