AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 103 



pounds in nine specimens of oats have been determined as follows: 

 (Norton.) 



1 =^ | Oat* 



Hopetownoats Potato oats Oats from i Wig- 1 from 

 tonshire. Scotl dl^Y. 



otein 01 



. 2.351 a.JW| 2761 2.82 

 14.0 \4.7H\ 14.04 1 1 7-36J17.77 



*. 13 



2b9] 6.611 2.491 30&amp;lt;&amp;gt; 

 18.24 28.0lh5.66J 18-86 



The relative proportions of nitrogen and protein compounds in the 

 husk, (A,) grain (B,) and whole oat (C,) areas follows : 



A B C 



Nitrogen, - - 0.30 282 



Protein compounds, - - 1-88 17.77 



The mean of eight samples of Scotch oats gave Mr. Norton 

 Grain, - 7G 28 



Husk, - - 23 6B 



The maximum of husk being 28.2, and the minimum 22.0. Fresh 

 oats contain from 16 to 21 per cent of water. 



The organic composition of the Husk is : 



Hopetown Oat. Potato Oat. 



Oil, - - 1-50 0.92 



Sugar and gum, - - 0.47 



Gluten and coagulated albumen, 



Cellulose,- - 89.68 89.46 



Saline matter, (ash,) - - 6.47 



262. Animal manures increase the crop and weight of the 

 husk rather than the proportion of gluten. 



2G3. In America, oats are used solely for feeding animals, 

 and for this purpose they are equal to any other grain; com 

 bining the largest amount of useful qualities. For horses do 

 ing hard work, or wliere great speed is required nothing can 

 replace them; and as the proportion of oil which they contain 

 is but little inferior to that in Indian corn, while it is probably- 

 more readily digested and received into the system, they are 

 used with great advantage for fattening hogs and other stock. 

 For this purpose, however, owing to the hard husk, they ought 

 to be crushed, and are preferable if boiled. 



Where crushing or grinding cannot be effected, boiling serves nearly 

 as good a purpose. 





