XIX. 



OATS. 



I. CLIMATE. 



391. Influence of Climate Upon Distribution. — Oats are natu- 

 rally adapted to a cooler climate than wheat, barley or maize. 

 North Dakota Station has shown that oats require less number 

 of days and less heat units than spring wheat or maize.^ The 

 climate needs to be both cool and moist. Oats grow fairly well 

 in the South, where, while warm, it is moist, but in California, 



where both warm and dry, oats do 

 not do as well as wheat or barley. 

 Oats grow to perfection in the cool, 

 moist, insular climate of Scotland, 

 Norway and Sweden, as well as in 

 Canada. Doubtless the pendant 

 spikelets, with large outer glumes, 

 protect the flowers from cold rains. 

 Oats may be grown as far north as 

 65° N. Lat. both in America and in 

 Norway, and have matured seed in 

 Alaska where the thermometer 

 reached 30° F. or lower every month 

 in the year. 



392. Influence of Climate Upon Dis- 

 tribution and Yield. — The relative adaptability of oats compared 

 with other cereals to certain climatic conditions is shown by 

 results of experiments in central Canada and central Ohio. By 

 growing oats, barley, field peas and spring wheat separately and 



» No. Dak. Bui. 47 (1900V d. ^o^ 



Barley and oats grown in 1903 at 

 Rampart, Alaska. Latitude 65" N. 

 (0. E. 5. Rpt. 1903.) 



