Oats

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

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: State. Bushels. Maine 4,046,000 New Hampshire 398,000 Vermont 2,664,000 Massachusetts 231,000 Rhode Island 62,000 Connecticut 359,000 New York 37,625,000 New Jersey 1,842,000 Pennsylvania 27,382,000 Delaware 119,000 Maryland 765,000 Virginia 3,820,000 West Virginia 1,805,000 North Carolina 3,300,000 South Carolina 4,020,000 Georgia 5,160,000 Florida 435,000 Ohio 38,544,000 Indiana 35,425,000 Illinois 94,300,000 Michigan 41,847,000 Wisconsin 73,085,000 Minnesota 59,004,000 Iowa 110,444,000 Missouri 13,510,000 North Dakota 32,737,000 South Dakota 31,395,000 Nebraska 56,078,000 Kansas 21,868,000 Kentucky 2,803,000 Tennessee 3,675,000 Alabama 4,230,000 Mississippi 2,188,000 Louisiana 600,000 Texas 21,675,000 Oklahoma 11,250,000 Arkansas 3,702,000 Montana 10,566,000 Wyoming 2,839,000 Colorado 7,031,000 New Mexico 804,000 Arizona 144,000 Utah 2,624,000 Nevada 315,000 Idaho 5,588,000 Washington 8,633,000 Oregon 9,519,000 California 6,700,000 United States. . . . . 807,156,000 The American crop by years has been in bushels: 1870 282,000,000 1880 407,000,000 1890 523,000,000 1900 809,000,000 1905 953,000,000 1906 964,000,000 1907 754,000,000 1909 980,000,000 The oat crop of the world for 1907 was 3,566,387,000 bushels, as follows: Country. Bushels. United States 807,156,000 Canada 258,268,000 New Brunswick 5,216,000 Ontario 107,093,000 Manitoba 46,120,000 Saskatchewan 30,125,000 Alberta 23,521,000 Other 46,193,000 Mexico 17,000 Belgium 44,000,000 Bulgaria 8,500,000 Denmark 41,000,000 Finland 19,000,000 France 287,190,000 Germany 530,131,000 Italy 18,000,000 Netherlands 21,000,000 Norway 11,315,000 Roumania 17,212,000 Russia 834,502,000 Servia 3,000,000 Spain 28,114,000 Sweden 72,773,000 England 82,470,000 Scotland 37,920,000 Wales 7,133,000 Ireland 63,839,000 Cyprus 340,000 Russia (Asiatic) 108,067,000 Algeria 8,500,000 Cape of Good Hope 2,596,000 Australasia 32,000,000