CHAPTER VI 

 OATS 



THE original home of the oat plant is Asia, where it was 

 grown at an early date as an animal food and used occa- 

 sionally in seasons of partial failure of crops as a human 

 food. Its value as an animal food and the ease with which 



Fig. 46. A field of pedigree oats ready to be harvested. 



it could be grown caused its rapid dissemination through- 

 out Europe and America. It is regarded as an excellent 

 food for horses. It is used also for human food, as oatmeal 

 and other breakfast foods. Oat straw is fed to stock and 

 is extensively used for bedding. 



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