Culture of oats.^ 70 



in Great Britain, they have many varieties of this grain, 

 among which are the oat in most common use here. "The 

 Angus oat is there considered an improved variety of the other ; 

 the Poland oat, the Triesland oat, the red oat, the dun ©at, the 

 Tartar, or Siberian oat, and the potato oat. The Poland and 

 potato varieties are best adapted to rich soils ; the red oat for 

 late climates ; and the other varieties, for the generality of 

 soils, of which the British isles are composed. The Tartar, 

 or Siberian kind, though very hard and prolific, is much out of 

 use, being of a coarse substance, and unproductive of meal ; 

 and the other kinds are, it appears, now principally superceded 

 by the potato oats, which are considered by the most discern- 

 ing agriculturists, as of superior value, in every respect, Vvhen 

 the soil is rich and properly cultivated." 



This variety has, it is said, in some respects degenerated, 

 owing to the farina of other oats having communicated with it. 

 it should be remarked that oats will always degenerate from 

 this cause, as well as from bad culture, and when this happens, 

 the farmer should renovate them by procuring pure seed from 

 others, when it can be had, and if it cannot, it w^ould be better 

 to make a selection of the strongest ears, wliich contained the 

 purest grain for seed, than to sow that which is light and im- 

 pure. 



From twelve to eighteen pecks of seed is generally allowed 

 to the acre, according to the strength of the soil, and the vari- 

 ety that is cultivated.* 



It is affirmed that land sown with potato oats, requires much 

 less seed, in point of measure, than when any of the other sorts 

 are used ; because they tiller well, much better than Poland 

 oats, and have not an awn, or tail, like the ordinary varieties* 

 On that account a measure contains many more seeds of them 

 than of any other kind.f 



* A less quantity of seed is perhaps generally applied by our 

 farmers; but it is believed that the crop is often lessened by too 

 thin sowin*. If the farmer understands the general principles 

 ■which relate to the g-ermination of seeds, he can safely exercise 

 his discretion in assigning the quantity. 



tThis seed perhaps may have been improved from the oats in 

 most common use in the United States ; for there is no doubt but 

 that this seed, as well as all othess, may be greatly improved by 

 selecting the largest grains, and which contain the most meal, 

 and cultivating them bo as to keep them clear from weeds and 

 light impure seed. But if we would procure the best varieties ef 

 seeds, of domestic and foreign growth, by purchase, we may find 



