Oats

an important cereal. Oats are the seed of a grass cultivated in all temperate climates. Two or three species grow wild in North America. Oats do not ripen so far north as barley, nor do well so far south as corn, but can endure more rain and cloudy weather than either. It is thought that all varieties, black, white, smooth, and awned, are derived from a single wild grass of the Old World; at least it is difficult to make any other satisfactory disposition of the subject. Oats are divided into two great classes. In the spreading oats, the branches of the panicle extend in all directions from the central stem. In the second class, known as banner oats, the branchlets all hang on one side like the mane of a horse.

Oats are regarded as the best of all grains for work horses, especially in warm climates and during the summer anywhere. As compared with corn, oats give equal strength and go less to fat. An oat-fed horse perspires less and can stand more hard work. Oatmeal and rolled oats have long been a favorite food in Scotland and are now much in favor among English-speaking people generally, especially at the breakfast table.

Oats are one of the world's greatest crops. They are raised in all but the warmest parts of Europe and are the chief grain crop north of a line drawn from Ireland to Central Russia. Central Asia and Siberia contribute their share. Australia raises a large oat crop. Algeria and Cape Colony, at the extreme ends of Africa, export oats. In North America oats rank with wheat. So far as statistics show, none of the South American countries raise oats. Of the cereals, oat straw is the best substitute for hay. For this purpose, it should be cut before the grain is out of the dough.

Oats are raised in every state and territory. In ordinary years Iowa leads, with a production of over 100,000,000 bushels. Then comes Illinois with almost as many-in 1909 with more; followed in order by Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, before the yield falls below 1,000,000 bushels. Michigan, Kansas, and Missouri are very near the line. Arizona, on account of the small area as yet irrigated, and Rhode Island and Delaware for other reasons, are at the foot of the list. The Orange Judd Farmer estimated the American crop for 1909 at 980,000,000 bushels. The following figures were given out by the United States Department of Agriculture as the American oat crop for 1908:

United States. . . . . 807,156,000

The American crop by years has been in bushels:

The oat crop of the world for 1907 was 3,566,387,000 bushels, as follows: