GROWING THE CROP 211 



more months before thrashing. This plan usually produces better 

 grain and much better straw. A modern thrasher with windpipe 

 for blowing away the straw is shown in figure 154. 



In very dry climates, where no rainfall occurs during the har- 

 vest seasons, combined harvesters and thrashers are sometimes 

 used. These large machines are drawn either by traction engines 

 or by twenty-five to thirty horses. They cut the grain and thrash 

 it at one operation. These combination machines are well suited 



FIG. 155. A "Blue Sky" granary near Idaho Falls, Idaho 33,500 bushels of wheat from 

 1,300 acres in one "dry farm." (I. H. Co.) 



to such dry climates as the eastern parts of Oregon and Washing- 

 ton. In such climates the wheat may be stored in the open, as 

 shown in figure 155. 



OATS 



The second most important of the small grains, both in the 

 old world and in America, is oats. The crop is grown chiefly for 

 stock feed, the whole grain being the most popular grain for horses. 

 In the ground form it is used for other farm animals. For human 

 consumption it is extensively used in the form of breakfast food, 

 as rolled oats. It is now less commonly ground into oatmeal for 

 use in baking. The straw is the most valuable for stock of the 

 straws produced by the small grains. 



Oats are grown extensively in the middle and northern lati- 

 tudes, the region extending farther north than for corn or wheat 

 Winter varieties are grown somewhat in the southern states. The 

 crop is not well suited to the semi-arid regions, except under ir- 

 rigation. 



Growing the Crop. Oats thrive best on a moderately rich 

 heavy loam, but will be more profitable than wheat if the soil is 

 poor or light. Fall plowing is usually practiced for heavy soils, 

 because the field can be seeded much earlier in the spring. The 



