132 



FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRICULTURE. 



branches arranged symmetrically about the central 

 stem. Side oats on the other hand have the branch- 

 ing of the panicle 

 greatly restricted, and 

 all the branches hang 

 from one side of the 

 main stem. In exten- 

 sive variety tests car- 

 ried on by several sta- 

 tions it is found that 

 less than one-tenth of 

 the total number of 

 varieties tested be- 

 longed to the type 

 " side oats." 



The classification 

 of oats as given by 

 the United States De- 

 partment of Agricul- 

 ture appears the most 

 comprehensive and 

 reasonable of any 

 classification yet sug- 

 gested. This division 



is based on characteristic features of the types and va- 

 rieties represented, so that the name applied to any 

 class indicates its distinguishing feature. 

 This classification includes five groups : 



1. Northern oats. 



2. Early oats. 



3. Red oats. 



4. Winter oats. 



5. Hulless oats. 



Northern oats are such as are most commonly 

 grown north of the fortieth parallel. They include 

 a large number of varieties and types of grain, but are 

 generally characterized by requiring from 100 to 125 

 days to mature fully. Early oats are also largely 

 grown throughout the game area as the Northern 



A TYPICAL OAT PANICLE CLOSED, OR 

 SIDE TYPE. 



