298 FIELD CROPS FOR THE .COTTON-BELT 



be exercised to see that the concaves of the machine are 

 so adjusted as to remove all of the grain from the straw 

 without hulling the grain. The straw is usually: stacked 

 or hauled to the barn. 



The grain should be stored in well-constructed bins set 

 sufficiently high off the ground that the grain will not 

 absorb moisture. The bins should be well cleaned before 

 filling as grain weevils or other insects often get into the 

 grain from uncleaned bins. 



MARKETING 



The greater part of the oats produced in the cotton- 

 belt are fed on the farm, In some cases that portion of 

 the crop that is marketed is first rtin through a fanning 

 mill to remove dirt and weed seeds ks well as the light, 

 chaffy grains, with the idea of raising the grade. Often 

 the markets do not pay sufficiently for cleaned seed to 

 justify the farmer for his trouble. 



365. Bleached oats. — The large, elevator companies 

 sometimes resort to the practice of bleaching oats of 

 inferior quality with sulfur fumes or other chemicals for 

 the purpose of making them resemble a better quality. 

 The profit from this practice is derived (1) by securing 

 low grades of oats and greatly increasing their selling price 

 by changing their appearance and (2) by increasing the 

 original weight by means of the water absorbed during 

 the bleaching process. Investigations have shown that 

 bleaching impairs the vitality of oats but that their feed- 

 ing value is not greatly reduced.^ Bleached oats should 

 not be used for seed. 



366. Market grades of oats. — On the large markets, 

 oats are graded when bought. These market grades differ 



' U. S. Dep't of Agr. Bur. of Plant Ind., Cir. 74 



