364 [Assembly 



[United states Patent Office Report. Part 2, 1853.] 



We extract from this valuable collection of facts in agriculturej 

 many interesting ones. 



OATS. 

 When considered in connection with the artificial grasses, and 

 the nourishment and improvement it afibrds to live stock, may b© 

 regarded as one of the most important crops we produce. 



Its history is highly interesting, from the circumstance, that, 

 while in many portions of Europe, when ground into meal, il 

 forms an important aliment for man, one variety, at least, haa 

 been cultivated from the days of Pliny, on account of its "superior 

 fitness as an article of diet for the sick." 



The country of its origin is veiled in the same uncertainty as 

 that of barley and rye, though the most common variety is said 

 to be indigenous to the Isle of Juan Fernandez, while another sort, 

 resembling it, is found growing wild in California. But as these are 

 met with in places which have been cultivated at former periods, 

 it is probable that they are only outcast and not v/ild aborigenes. 



Oats were introduced in the North American Colonies, soon 

 after their first settlement by Europeans- They were sown by 

 Gosnold, on the Elizabeth Ishmds, in 16U2; cultivated in New- 

 foundland, in 1622, and in Massachusetts in 162?. In 1633, good 

 crops of oats were grown in Lynn. It appears that they were 

 not much cultivated previous to that time, as four hogsheads of 

 oatmeal came to Nantasket, from England, in 1631. This grain 

 was introduced into New Netherland, prior to 1626, as there arri- 

 ved in Holland from the little colony on Manhattan Ishmd (New- 

 York), samples of the recent harvest, consisting of oats and other 

 grains, as an evidence of their prosperous condition. 



The oats of the United States for 1853, amount to 160 millionsi 

 of bushels, of the value of 60 million of dollars, at 37i els. p. bsh. 



Oats are generally sown upon the poorest and most exhausted 

 land of the farm. On a first rate soil, in good condition, they 

 sometimes produce 07ie hundred bushels per acre, more than double 

 or common good crop. 



