CKRKAI<S AND PUI.SE CROPS 



1279 



cupied for the same ten-year period was 242 831 acres : the average 5deld 

 47.9 bushels per acre. Both the area under oats and the average unit 

 production are in continual increase. 



The major part of the oats produced by this State is grown in two 

 widely separated districts: the county of Skagit in the western part, and 

 the counties of Spokane and Whitman in the eastern part. 



A study of the conditions peculiar to those sections where oats are grown 

 in large quantities indicates that the}^ thrive better in a rather moist cli- 

 mate. Trials for determining the quantity of moisture required by the 

 different cultivations showed that oats in order to produce a unit of weight 

 of dry substance, require more water than does barle^^ or wheat. The max- 

 imum unit yields are obtained where the vegetative period is long and com- 

 paratively cool. 



Table I sets out the characters of the most important varieties of oats 

 in the State of Washington. They are determined from plants grown at 

 Pullman. Table II indicates the unit productions obtained from the best 

 varieties in open field experiments at Pullman. 



Tabi^e I. 



Characteristics of the principal varieties of oats 

 grown in the State of Washington. 



