172 THE SOILS AND CROPS OF THE FARM. 



for cattle, and for bedding. It is less valuable than 

 rye straw for the manufacture of paper, and than 

 wheat straw also, although some paper mills are said 

 to prefer it to wheat straw. 



In the south, where it is difficult to grow our tame 

 grasses, oats are frequently cut green for hay. 



Composition. — It would be reasonable to sup- 

 pose, that as oats deteriorate so readily and are appar- 

 ently so easily influenced by their surroundings, great 

 variations would be found in their chemical compo- 

 sition under different climatic conditions. 



Analyses show that there is very little variation in 

 the kernel itself, that is, the residue after the palets 

 or hulls are removed. Taking the kernel alone, oats 

 have a considerably larger per cent of albuminoids and 

 fat than any other of our cereals. Taking the whole 

 berry as we feed it to our stock, oats differ from corn 

 principally in having a larger per cent of crude fiber at 

 the expense of the starch. 



As prepared for human food it is the most nutri- 

 tious of our cereals. It is especially adapted to peo- 

 ple living in northern climates or those who have 

 plenty of out-door exercise. It is said that in eastern 

 Scotland the unmarried plowmen lived solely on oat- 

 meal and milk, except in the winter, when they some- 

 times got potatoes. They were allowed seventeen and 

 one-half pounds of oatmeal weekly, and three to four 

 pints of milk daily. This formed their sole diet with no 

 other cooking than boiling water stirred into the meal. 

 These men were strong and healthy. The witty Dr. 

 Johnson sarcastically remarked: "Oats is a grain fed to 

 horses in England, but eaten by men in Scotland." 

 "YeSj" said a Scotchman, *'and I have noticed that 



