132 



BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS 



of the corn belt in the United States. Cool summers favor 

 the ripening of the grain; oats is a better crop than wheat 

 at high latitudes and altitudes. The white and black oats 

 are grown at higher latitudes than red and yellow sorts; the 

 latter are raised in the Southern States, some varieties 

 being sown as winter oats. Practically all of the oats grown 

 in the Northern States is spring-sown. 



The water requirement of oats is greater than that of 

 any of the other common cereals. It will thrive on soils too 

 wet for corn and in general is better adapted to heavier soils. 



Uses of Oats. — ^Large quantities of oats are consumed 

 annually in the form of rolled oats or oatmeal. The grain 

 is also a much valued horse feed, and not infrequently it is 

 fed to poultry. Oats are sometimes grown for pasture, and 

 also cut before reaching maturity as hay. It makes an ex- 

 cellent nurse crop. Oat straw is used as roughage for stock, 

 and as a bedding. 



The Production of Oats.^ — As is the case with wheat and 

 corn, the United States also leads all other countries in the 

 production of oats. Russia is a close second. Iowa, 

 Illinois and Minnesota were the leading States in 191 5. 



Leading Countries in the Production of Oats, Showing Acreage and 

 Production, 1915 



Countries 



United States 



Russia, European 



Germany 



Canada 



France 



Austria-Hungary 



United Kingdom 



Sweden 



Argentina 



* No ofl&cial statistics. 



