On the Cultivation of Oats. 



117 



but the grain was never equal to the potato variety either in 

 quality or quantity, although sown under similar circumstances. 

 When bulky the culms hiee over above the first joint from the 

 ground, and when exposed to very moderate v. ind or rain the crop 

 goes completely down and presents ths appearance of having been 

 passed over by a, heavy roller. The best mode of cultivating 

 Hopetoun oats, when not intended for seed the following year, is 

 to mix them in equal proportions with Sandy oats, and sow the 

 tvv'o together. The straw of the latter being strong and stiff helps 

 to keep the v;eaker straw of the former from going down, and the 

 crop thus obtained generally yields better than either variety sown 

 by itself. The Hopetoun oat has a large grain, thick husk, with 

 a yellow purplish or brownish tinge, does not meal so well as the 

 Potato or Sandy. It yields largely to the acre when the crop is 

 not lodged. It is suitable to li5:ht soils, but not to exposed or 

 high lying ground. It might be found to suit the light sandy and 

 chalky lands of the south and south-east of England, where there 

 would be no risk of danger to the crop from its being too strong. 

 In Scotland its straw is not much esteemed for fodder, but this 

 may arise in some measure from its being frequently laid flat to 

 the ground and partially rotted before being reaped. No 

 doubt a dry climate would im.prove the straw of the Hopetoun 

 oat considerably. It ripens much about the same time as the 

 Potato and Sandy oats, but when sown as a mixture the Hope- 

 toun and Sandy do best together. 



The other varieties of oats akin to those already described are 

 '•'Early Angus," short, and rather weak strawed, prolific on rich 

 soils; English Berlie or barley oat, similar to the last, but better 

 strawed. It is a great favourite in Aberdeenshire, from whence 

 it has been imported into Ireland by Scotch agriculturists residing 

 in that country, and found to ansvv er the soil and clim.ate remark- 

 ably well. 



The Siberian Early White oat is also worthy of notice. It was 

 originally sent to Scotland from Hamburgh by Messrs. J. G. 

 Booth and Co., of that city. The high character sent along vrith 

 it has scarcely been sustained in this country, for although a very 

 prolific variety, and very early, yet the straw is so coarse as to be 

 fit only for litter, while the grain is enveloped in a thick husk — 

 a sure sign of deficient mealing properties. Oats can never be 

 reckoned a remunerative crop unless the straw will make good 

 winter fodder for horses, sheep, or cattle ; and all other circum- 

 stances being equal the Scotch arable land farmer always gives 

 the preference to that variety w^hich affords the best straw for this 

 purpose. For these reasons it is not likely that the cultivation 

 of white Siberian oats will ever become general in this country. 



Late or Common White Oats. — These differ from the varieties 



