78 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



often badly damaged and suffer great loss from rains. This is largely 

 obviated by stacking as soon as in proper condition. 



In threshing, the concaves of the machine should be so adjusted 

 that all grain will be separated from the straw, but the adjustment should 

 be such as not to cause serious hulling of the berries or undue cutting of 

 the straw. Oats are easily threshed when in a dry condition. The straw 

 at threshing time should be either carefully stacked or run directly into 

 a hay-loft or storage-shed, depending on facilities. 



Storing and Marketing. — The threshed grain should be dry when 

 put in bins and should be kept dry by adequate protection from rains or 

 absorption of moisture from any source. Mustiness lowers the feeding 

 value and endangers the health of animals. It also lowers the market 

 value of the grain. Where grain weevils and other insects seriously affect 

 stored grain, tight bins which can be fumigated are advisable. Under 

 favorable conditions oats may be stored for a considerable time with 

 very little shrinkage and loss. The highest market price generally pre- 

 vails during the early part of the year and just prior to the oat harvest. 



Composition and Feeding Value. — A large portion of the oats grown 

 in America are fed to livestock. Limited quantities are used for the 

 manufacture of prepared cereals. Oats are high in protein and are well 

 adapted for work horses and growing animals. They are especially 

 desirable because of the hulls which they contain, and which dilute the 

 concentrate to about the right extent for healthy digestion. They are 

 generally fed whole, although not infrequently are they chopped and 

 mixed with other grains. An average of thirty analyses of oats gives 

 13.3 per cent protein, 5.6 per cent fat and 67.1 per cent carbohydrates, as 

 compared with 11.8, 6.1 and 78.1 per cent for those respective items in 

 corn. 



Value of Oats for Hay and Soiling Purposes. — If cut when the grain 

 is in the milk, oats make a palatable and nutritious hay, especially well 

 suited for horses. Oats seeded with Canada peas make a good hay for 

 milch cows and other cattle. This mixture is also well suited for soiling 

 purposes and provides an early soiling crop. By seeding at different 

 times the season of available soiling crops from this source may be con- 

 siderably prolonged. A common rate of seeding this mixture is 1 bushel 

 of peas to If bushels of oats. This mixture also makes good pasture for 

 stock of all kinds. 



Oat Straw and its Utilization. — Oat straw has a higher feeding value 

 and is more palatable than straw from the other grains. It is quite gen- 

 erally used for feeding horses during the winter, and as a maintenance 

 roughage for cattle and sheep. Its feeding value and palatability are 

 best when the grain is harvested fairly early and the straw is secured 

 without damage by rains. It pays to store it carefully and utilize it for 

 feed as fully as possible. The refuse portion makes a valuable bedding 

 and the straw has a fertilizer value of about $3 per ton. 



