OATS 



Habits of Growth. -- The oat belongs to the grass family. 

 It usually grows from 2 to 4 feet high, depending upon the 

 variety and the nature of the soil upon which it is grown. 

 The roots of the plant are long and fibrous, and run down 

 to a depth of i to 2 feet on rich mellow soils in which 

 drainage is good. The plant resembles wheat and barley 

 in its early stages of growth, but later it branches more 

 profusely and is more leafy. 



Varieties. -- There are numerous so-called varieties, the 

 names of which have been applied by seedsmen and growers. 





Fig. 47. Different kinds of oat panicles. The one at the left is an example of side 

 panicles; the other three are those of open panicles. The one on the extreme 

 right is Wisconsin Pedigree No. i. 



For all practical purposes they can be classified according 

 to color and time of maturity. There are white, yellow, 

 black, gray, and red oats; and early, medium, and late 

 strains in each variety. Some of the prominent varieties 

 grown in the Northern States are Swedish Select, Silver 

 Mine, Big Four, American Banner, White Bonanza, White 



