FARM CROPS. 133 



class, but these are characterized by their early matu- 

 rity, about ninety days, their comparatively short, fine, 

 stiff straw and their long, slender grains. These two 

 sorts comprise more than two-thirds of all the oats 

 produced in the United States. Red oats are varie- 

 ties of a brown or red color, developed into and espe- 

 cially adapted to the warmer states. The grain is usu- 

 ally large and plump with a heavy hull and often with 

 a stiff short awn or beard, which is persistent on the 

 back of the large grain of the twin oats in a spikelet. 

 This class together with the winter oats are the most 

 common sorts of the Southern States. 



Hulless oats are an unimportant class, and may be 

 found in limited quantities in almost any oat produc- 

 ing section. They derive their name from the fact 

 that the outer hull, which commonly clings to oats be- 

 longing to the other classes, is in this class removed in 

 threshing. 



Improvement of Oats. Much less has been done 

 toward the improvement of oats than with wheat or 

 barley. All of the classes mentioned can be consid- 

 erably improved. Selection of varieties of the differ- 

 ent classes which are earlier, more hardy, possess stiffer 

 straw, and that are more resistant to drought, heat, 

 and disease will do much toward the rapid improve- 

 ment of oats. Considerable gain can be made by giv- 

 ing greater attention to the character and fertility of 

 the soil, to the selection of better seed, and to the 

 preparation of the seed bed upon which the oats are 

 sown. The careful and complete preparation of the 

 seed bed, the use of only large plump seed, and sow- 

 ing oats with the drill rather than broadcast have been 

 repeatedly shown to result in rapid improvement and 

 in increased yields. The rate of seeding per acre can 

 be greatly lessened when there is a better preparation 

 of the seed bed, and when the grain drill is used in 

 seeding. The Experiment Stations of Minnesota, 

 Ohio, Kansas and of Ontario have each reported im- 

 provement of yield and quality when only the large 



