INTRODUCTION. Ixvii 



The New England States produced about the same quantity of oats as of Indian corn ; but, while 

 (here has been a tailing off in the production of Indian corn, in proportion to population, between 1850 

 and 18GO, the production of oats has increased about half a bushel to each inhabitant, or from 2.!)5 

 bushels in 1850 to 3.43 bushels in I860. 



The middle States raise more oats, in proportion to population, than any other section. In the 

 production of wheat there has been a great falling off from 1850 to 1860, and in Indian corn there was 

 a slight decline in proportion to population ; but the oat crop has increased more than enough to make 

 up for the deficiency in the corn crop, though by no means sufficient, in proportion to population, to 

 make up for the decrease in the yield of wheat. In 1860 the middle States produced about nine 

 bushels of Indian corn to each person, and a little over eight and one-half bushels of oats. 



The western States, which produce over 45 bushels of Indian corn, produce only six and one-half 

 bushels of oats to each inhabitant. The increase in the production of oats in the western States does 

 not keep pace with the increase in population. In 1860, as compared with 1850, there is a falling off 

 of over one bushel of oats to each person. 



The southern States produced nearly four and one-half bushels of oats to each person in 1850, 

 and only a fraction over two bushels in 1860. 



The Pacific States, in 1860, produced four bushels of oats to each person. 



Taking the country as a whole, the production of oats has not kept pace with the increase in popu 

 lation. In 1850 we produced six and three-tenths bushels to each person, and in 1860 less than five 

 and one-half bushels. 



THE CULTURE OB OATS. 



This grain, while paying well for good cultivation, can be raised with less labor than any other 

 cereal crop, and will thrive on a great variety of soils. Where extra care is taken in preparing and 

 enriching the land, the best and heaviest oats are produced on a clayey loam ; but, as a general rule, 

 in this country, oats are raised on low, moist, rather mucky soils. Unlike barley, they succeed on 

 sod-land. They are frequently sown on new, moist land, that would otherwise be planted with Indian 

 corn. They require less labor in planting and cultivating than corn, and are sown to a considerable 

 extent on this account. 



In New York and Pennsylvania, which produce more than one-third of all the oats raised in the 

 United States and Territories, oats are frequently sown on land intended for wheat, taking the place 

 formerly occupied by a summer fallow. Where the land is rich enough, good wheat is often obtained 

 after oats; but, as a general rule, the oats arc obtained at the expense of the succeeding wheat crop. 



