Small Grains 147 



plant a rust-resistant variety. The United States Department 

 of Agriculture or the experiment station of each state can 

 give advice as to varieties for each particular region. 



Wheat scab attacks the head of the grain. It is known by a 

 reddish spot found at the base of the diseased glumes. Scab 

 does not usually cause great loss, although at times much 

 shriveled grain results from the disease. There is no remedy, 

 but, of course, seed from an infested field should not be planted. 



OATS 

 68. Distribution, yields, and characteristics of oats. The 



principal oat-producing countries in order of production are : 

 United States, Russia, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, and 

 the United Kingdom. In the United States the Central and 

 North Central States are the largest producers. Iowa and 

 Illinois grow about a fourth of the oats of the country. Other 

 states having large oat-producing areas are Wisconsin, Minne- 

 sota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, 

 Nebraska, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Missouri. Oats 

 are grown in many of the Southern States and, although the 

 acreage is not large, it is rapidly increasing. The average 

 yield of oats in the different countries varies considerably. 

 From 1900 to 1909 the yields in bushels were as follows : 

 Germany 50.7; United Kingdom 44.3; France 31.6; Austria- 

 Hungary 30.2; United States 29.3; Russia 20. The yield 

 in the United States is very low. With more attention given 

 to the farming of oats, the average yield in this country could 

 easily be doubled. 



The plant is an annual with jointed stem, blade-like leaves, 

 and a fibrous root system. The height of stem varies from 

 two to five feet, averaging about three feet. The leaves are 

 somewhat broader than those of wheat. The grain-bearing 

 portion is a panicle which consists of a central stem, along 

 which are nodes from which spring single branches that bear 

 the spikelets (Fig. 55). 



