OATS AS GRAIN AND FODDER. 



J. M. Bartlktt. 



The oat crop ranks third in importance anions American 

 cereals in the United States and has a long lead as first in the 

 State of Maine. In 1899 the State grew about 141,600 acres, 

 which was six times as much land as was devoted to any other 

 cereal, and about 5,000,000 bushels of the grain were raised. 

 Owing to the low price and uncertain yield of wheat in recent 

 years, the acreage devoted to oats has greatly increased. 



Formerly the oat grain was only used as food for animals but 

 now it holds a prominent place among nutrients for man. The 

 grain varies quite widely in composition and weight. In the 

 southern portions of our country it is much coarser, contains 

 more hull, and is consequently more bulky, a measured bushel 

 weighing sometimes as little as twenty pounds, while the north- 

 ern grown grain frequently weighs over forty pounds. The 

 quality and composition is also considerably affected by climatic 

 conditions, such as moisture, heat and cold, etc. 



The oat plant succeeds best in a cool, moist climate such as is 

 found in northern and eastern Maine, the Provinces, and Prince 

 Edward's Island. It will grow on most all kinds of soil, from 

 light gravelly loam to stiff clays and peats. The oat is a great 

 forager and will grow on poorer soil than wheat or barley. It 

 thrives best and matures the plumpest grain on rather light soil 

 well supplied with moisture, and sufficiently early to allow the 

 oats to be sown the last of April or first of May. Late sown oats 

 are liable to rust before the grain matures. 



INFLUENCE OF MANURE ON OATS. 



Although oats will grow and yield moderate crops on poorer 

 soils than most other cereals, they respond readily and profitably to 

 liberal applications of manure. Too heavy applications of stable 

 manures or nitrogenous fertilizers are liable to cause an excessive 

 growth of straw at the expense of the grain. Oats require less 

 nitrogen than wheat, and are greatly benefitted by liberal quanti- 

 ties of phosphoric acid, and this fact should be borne in mind in 

 preparing land for them. If stable manure is employed, only a 



