260 



CHAPTER XV 



The seven countries leading in oat production are given 

 below : — 



The comparatively extensive farming practised in the 

 United States and Eussia accounts for the low acre yield, as 

 opposed to the high yield per acre of Germany and the United 

 Kingdom, where farming of necessity is intensive. 



African Production. 



1911. 

 Bushels. 



Algeria 11,520,000 



Union of South Africa 9,661,000 

 Tunis 4,650,000 



1918. 

 Bushels. 



10,790,000 



Since fully half the oats grown in South Africa are fed to 

 stock as forage, the total production as grain would be approxi- 

 mately double the amount given above. 



The order of production by Provinces is the same as in the 

 case of wheat, i.e., Cape Province, Orange Free State, Trans- 

 vaal and Natal, which is to be expected, since the climatic 

 requirements of the two crops are very similar. 



General Description and Classification.' — The roots 

 are coarser and more numerous, and it is generally accepted 

 that the oat plant is coarser feeding than the wheat plant. 



The culms are larger and more succulent than those of 

 wheat ; the oat plant, too, is more leafy, and on the average the 

 leaves are wider than wheat leaves, sometimes equalling one 

 and a half inches in width. 



The inflorescence is a panicle usually 9 to 12 inches in 

 length. 



Except in the hulless group the kernel is enclosed by the 

 palca and lemma. The kernel proper is usually almost cylin- 



