OF SCOTLAND.

501

seasons and other circumstances, the seed-time usually com-mencing when the sowing of spring wheat is finished. Thequantity of seed is generally from four to five Winchesterbushels to the English statute acre ; but the Poland variety,not planting so well, requires more seed than others. Indeedit is always most advisable to give a full supply of seed, forthe reason already mentioned in the former section respectingthe quantity of seed barley.—The depth is altogether uncer-tain, much depending on the nature and size ot the seed fur-row ; and all that can be said on this subject is, that the har-rows are industriously used till the surface is reduced suffi-ciently, and the seed completely covered.

§ 3. Kinds. —Only one species of oat, botanically consider-ed the avena sativa, is cultivated in Britain ; but of this thereare numerous varieties, occasioned by careful selection andjudicious cultivation. It is exceedingly difficult to give anyrational or intelligible account of these varieties, as in variousdistricts they often receive different names, generally borrow-ed from the place or district whence the original seed wasprocured, or whence careful husbandmen continue to procurechanges of seed to keep up the quality of the desired variety,as unless great attention is paid to selection, they are apt todegenerate when long cultivated on the same or similar soiland situation *. These varieties may be classed under twogeneral descriptions, early and late ripeners, or hot-seed andcold-seed, or, as named in some places, ear seed and late seed.Those named hot-seed or late seed are early ripeners, andmay therefore be sown later in spring ; while the cold-seed,or Cffr-seed requiring a longer period to come to perfection,must be sown earlier to secure ripeness at harvest. Without

* By attention mucB may bo effected. The Blainslie oat, for instance, liasteen cultivated there for at least fifty years, longer by far than on any other landin the country ; yet far from degenerating there, this continues to be the placew here it can still be had in the greatest purity and perfection.