82 FIELD AND LABORATORY STUDIES OF CROPS 



when measured in bushels the production of oats exceeds 

 that of any other cereal. Of the total world's production 

 the United States produces more bushels than any other 

 country, while Russia occupies second place. In the United 

 States oats rank second to corn in number of bushels pro- 

 duced, but in value the oat crop is surpassed by corn, cotton, 

 hay, and wheat. 



In 1850 New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio constituted 

 the center of production for oats in the United States 

 but by ICOO the center of production had moved westward 

 to Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Statistics show that in 

 those states where there has been a decrease in the acreage 

 devoted to oats, there has been an increase in the corn 

 acreage. 



During the past fifty years the oat crop of the United 

 States has about doubled in proportion to the population. 



