294 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



not be pastured when the land is wet, nor late enough to 

 prevent abundant stooling or the production of stems in 

 the spring. 



USES OF OATS 



357. Grain as food. — The grain of oats is used pri- 

 marily as a feed for horses, first because of its high value 

 as a horse food, and, second, because the market price 

 of oats in the cotton-belt is so high as to prohibit its being 

 fed with profit to other classes of live-stock. Even when 

 oats are fed to horses, the practice of substituting corn 

 or some cheaper food for a part of the oat ration is rather 

 common. Oats do not make a good ration for fattening 

 cattle and its high content of crude fiber renders it inferior 

 as a food for hogs. When the price will justify its use the 

 grain of oats makes a good feed for dairy cows, sheep 

 and poultry. 



358. Oat straw. — For stock not at hard work, oat 

 straw makes a valuable roughage. Its feeding value is 

 greater than the straw of wheat, rye, or barley and almost 

 equals that of corn stover. Oat straw is an excellent 

 absorbent and being richer in fertilizing elements than the 

 straw of the other small-grains, it makes an excellent 

 litter for use in stables. 



359. Oat hay. — If cut in the early dough stage oats 

 make an excellent hay. On good land, from two to three 

 tons to the acre can be produced. It is cured without 

 difficulty and is eaten greedily by horses, cattle, and sheep. 

 In the South, winter vetch is often grown with the oats, 

 for hay. 



360. Oats for pasture and soiling. — Excellent winter 

 pasture for all kinds of stock may be furnished by oats. 

 They should not be pastured early in the fall nor too closely 



