OATS 275 



332. Pollination. The oat is ^naturally self-pollinated, 

 and there is little danger of crossing between different 

 varieties, even when grown in close proximity. The 

 mixing of varieties is generally the result of carelessness 

 in handling the seed. 



333. The grain. The oat grain, except in hull-less 

 varieties, consists of the flowering glume, palea, and ker- 

 nel. The flowering glume and palea constitute, what is 

 known as the oat hull. This, however, is entirely different 

 from the hull of wheat or corn. In the case of wheat the 

 flowering glume and palea are removed in threshing, 

 while in oats they are so tightly wrapped about the kernel 

 that threshing does not remove them. The proportion 

 of hull to kernel varies considerably in oats and is an im- 

 portant factor in determining quality. As a rule the value 

 of the grain decreases as the proportion of hull to kernel 

 increases. Any unfavorable condition during the time of 

 " filling" will usually decrease the percentage of kernel 

 owing to the fact that the hull develops first. 



A measured bushel of oats may vary in weight from 

 25 to 50 pounds although the usual range is from 30 to 36 

 pounds. The legal weight of a bushel in most states is 

 32 pounds. As a rule, oats produced in the cotton-belt 

 are lighter than that produced further north. Elevator 

 companies often resort to the process of " clipping" the 

 grain for the purpose of increasing the weight per bushel. 

 By this process a portion of the hull is removed from the 

 tip of the grain, special machinery being used for this pur- 

 pose. 



334. Composition. Owing to the large proportion 

 of hull, the oat grain contains a larger amount of fiber 

 and ash than any other cereal. As the proportion of hull 

 is quite variable, depending on variety and season, the 



