257 



OATS. 



OATS are principally in demand for horses, and the extraordinary 

 increase of the latter has occasioned a proportional increase in 

 the culture of oats. They are grown more especially in the north 

 and north-eastern counties ; in the midland counties their culture 

 is less extensive, but it is prevalent throughout most parts of 

 Wales. 



Nearly twice as much oats as wheat is raised in the United 

 Kingdom, but the proportion grown in Scotland is not so large 

 as is supposed. The following is a fair estimate of the compara- 

 tive production : 



Acres. Produce. 



England 2,500,000 12,500,000 



Ireland 2,300,000 11,500,000 



Scotland ..... 1,300,000 6,500,000 



Total 6,100,000 30,500,000 



"We import annually about li million quarters from foreign 

 countries and nearly three-fourths of a million quarters from Ire- 

 land. The average produce per acre throughout the kingdom is 

 five quarters. The price within the last 10 years has ranged from 

 28s. 7d. per quarter (the famine year) to 17s. 6d. 



The oat, when considered in connection with the artificial 

 grasses, and the nourishment and improvement it affords to live 

 stock,, may be regarded as one of the most important crops 

 produced. Its history is highly interesting, from the circumstance 

 that in many portions of .Europe it is formed into meal, and 

 forms an important aliment for man ; one sort, at least, has been 

 cultivated from the days of Pliny, on account of its fitness as an 

 article of diet for the sick. The country of its origin is some- 

 what uncertain, though the most common variety is said to be 

 indigenous to the Island of Juan Fernandez. Another oat, 

 resembling the cultivated variety, is also found growing wild in 

 California. 



This plant was introduced into the North American Colonies 

 soon after their settlement by the English. It was sown by 

 Gosnold on the Elizabeth Islands in 1602 ; cultivated in New- 

 foundland in 1622, and in Virginia, by Berkley, prior to 1648. 



The oat is a hardy grain, and is suited to climates too hot and 

 too cold either for wheat or rye. Indeed, its flexibility is so great, 

 that it is cultivated with success in Bengal as low as latitude 

 twenty-five degrees North, but refuses to yield profitable crops as 

 we approach the equator. It flourishes remarkably well, when 

 due regard is paid to the selection of varieties, throughout the in- 

 habited parts of Europe, the northern and central portions of 

 Asia, Australia, Southern and Northern Africa, the cultivated 

 regions of nearly all North America, and a large portion of South 

 America. 



