170 CULTURE OF THE CEREALS. 



the richness of the soil and the purpose for which the 

 crop is designed. 



567. Oats produce an admirable green crop for feeding 

 out to milch cows and other stock, on account of the 

 rapidity and eaiiiness of their growth. When sown for this 

 purpose a larger quantity of seed is required than if the 

 design is to produce a crop of grain. In either case the 

 earlier they are sown in spring the better. 



568. The roller is sometimes drawn over the young 

 plants before they have tillered, or sent up side shoots. 

 It then checks the upward growth of the main stalk and 

 multiplies the side shoots, thus increasing the amount of 

 the product. 



569. Oats should be cut before the straw has turned 

 completely yellow ; if left longer, the amount of nutri 

 ment both in the grain and the stalk becomes less, and 

 there is a loss by shelling out in harvesting. They may 

 be cut with the scythe, and in many cases the mowing 

 machine or reaper can be used to advantage. They 

 should be left to dry a day or two before storing in the 

 barn. 



570. In this country oats are used almost exclusively 

 for feeding horses and other animals, for which purpose 

 they are very excellent, as they contain a large amount 

 of nourishment. Oat meal is also extensively used by 

 young men during their training or preparation for 

 athletic games and exercises, being admirably adapted to 

 the formation of muscle and strength. It is used for 

 human food to a great extent in Scotland and Ireland. 

 The straw is more valuable for fodder than that of wheat, 

 rye or barley. 



571. Buckwheat. Buckwheat is not properly a cereal 

 in, but belongs to an entirely different order of plants 



