20 The Bulletin. 



OATS 



HISTORY OF OATS 



The oat plant, like wheat, seems first to have been demosticated in 

 Europe or Asia Minor. The Greeks knew it and evidence is not lack- 

 ing that it was plentiful in the South of Italy during the time of the 

 Roman Empire. It has been found in the Swiss lake-dwellings of 

 the Bronze Age. It seems that the Hebrews and Egyptians did not 

 cultivate the oat plant but that its ancient domestication was largely 

 confined to the country north of Italy and Greece. 



This plant has not been found in a wild state and indications point 

 to its origin from a single prehistoric form, a native of Eastern tem- 

 perate Europe and of Tartary, 



Oats have always been recognized as a feed for domesticated ani- 

 mals and in times of scarcity, as good food for man. While the crop is 

 still largely grown for horse feed, its use as human food has largely 

 increased in recent years. 



The great bulk of the oat crop of the world is produced within the 

 north temperate zone including the countries of Russia, Germany, 

 Norway and Sweden, Canada, and the northern part of the United 

 States. Russia produces more oats than any other country. 



CULTIVATION 



The principles regarding the preparation of the seedbed for wheat 

 apply to oats and other small grain. Oats can be grown successfully 

 on a greater variety of soils than wheat, and, where possible, fall seed- 

 ing should be followed, using some of the hardy winter varieties, as 

 the largest yields of grain are obtained from fall sowing when they 

 stand the winter. Much can be done to carry oats through the winter 

 in good condition by thorough preparation of the land and sufficiently 

 early seeding to allow the plants to reach a good root development 

 before winter frosts set in. 



The oat plant needs a cool, moist soil, plentifully supplied with 

 organic matter and mineral elements in an available condition. The 

 seedbed should be as thoroughly prepared as for wheat and only the 

 best, cleanest, heaviest seed used in sowing the crop. This crop is a 

 rather gross feeder, however, and will make a good yielder on soils 

 not suited to the growth of wheat. Even sandy soils, on which wheat 

 would bring little returns, will produce a good crop of oats. For this 

 reason this crop is found very profitable on the sandy soils of the 

 eastern part of the State growing in a rotation with cotton. 



Both the wheat and the oat crops are frequently damaged by freez- 

 ing during severe winters on clean land, a result which can largely be 

 ofi"set by sowing early and allowing the crop to get a good growth 

 before the cold weather sets in. The drill is preferable in seeding oats 

 provided the seeding is done early, say September 15th, and the drill 

 rows left open. The hoe-drill is preferable to the disc drill in seeding 

 onts on clean land that heaves badly. If sown late the open furrow 

 method is preferable. By this method the oats are put in the bottom 



