316. Elementary Principles of Agriculture 



of water for oats, 464 pounds for barley, and 277 pounds 

 for corn. (1f 106). In the dry warm climates, red oats 

 are more successful than the white oats, and probably 

 require less water. In sections far enough south to allow 

 fall seeding oats are valuable, not only as a grain crop, 

 but as a winter grazing crop; in fact they are often grown 

 for this purpose alone. 



458. Preparing Land for Oats. Oat yields are affected 

 more by the nature of the soil, and the rain-fall during 

 their growing season, than by the manner in which the 

 soil is prepared for seeding. They give their best returns 

 on heavy stiff lands. Fertilizers like potash and phos- 

 phates, that tend to increase the grain rather than the 

 stalk are preferred. Nitrogenous fertilizers increase the 

 natural tendency to make a large growth of stems and 

 leaves, often causing the stems to lodge. 



458a. Classes and Varieties of Oats. The cultivated oats belong 

 to three groups as follows: A. Common or Branched Oats which 

 include most of the cultivated varieties, commonly classed as white 

 oats in the grain trade. Some varieties have dark or even black 

 grains. The panicles or heads are open and spreading. B. Tartar- 

 ian or Side Oats have erect, close panicles, the spikelets being on short 

 branches that hang to one side of the head. This form includes 

 but few varieties that are generally cultivated. C. The Red or 

 Southern Oats, originally from Southern Europe, are often called 

 "rust-proof oats" because of their comparative resistance to rust. 

 They are generally used in the South, where the more vigorous 

 growing white oats do not thrive. Red oat varieties are growing 

 in favor with northern farmers, due to their early maturing habits. 

 Their low-growing, stout stems, comparative resistance to rust, 

 ability to stand up well and avoid lodging, drouth resisting qualities, 

 and large grains make them especially popular in the South. 



459. Rice is said to be the principal cereal in the diet 

 of nearly 800 million people, which is more than half of 

 the world 's population. It makes a healthful, economical, 



