Oats, The Crop for the North 
The Whole Story of Production 
Paht T. 
0}iIPAPIS()X WITH WHEAT.—Xotwith.stand- 
iii!? tlie fact tliat oat.s rank next to corn and 
wheat in crop acreage and value in the ITnitod 
States, and, with the exception of wheat, were far 
ahead of all other grain crops in Canada, little has 
been said or written regarding the economical 
growing of this crop. In tlie campaign for greater 
wheat production this unassuming cereal seems to 
liave been lost sight of, with the result that last 
year many acres of wheat were sown, in the 
Xorthern States, that because of unsuitable condi¬ 
tions, i)Oor seed, etc., did not yield the returns in 
KEQUIREMIOXTS AND AXATA'SIS.—The oat 
I'lant attains its best development in the humid 
regions of the temperate zone. It delights in 
moisture and coolness and is found widely culti- 
^■ated in the tier of States just south of the Cana¬ 
dian line. In the .section east of the Mis.sissippi and 
north of the Ohio oats outrank wheat in value, and 
in some of these Northern States the value of the 
oat crop is greater than that of either corn or 
wheat. P.eing so ^^'idely cultivated we are some¬ 
what better acquainted with the best cultural 
methods, and are better equipped for sowing, har¬ 
vesting -and thra.shing the crop. It is a plant that 
readily adapts itself to various soil conditions, and 
because of its less refined feeding habits the soil 
does not have to be brought to the high state of 
The oat kernel, after the hull is removed, analyzes 
about 1(1 per cent protein, 1 per cent fiber, 73.1 per 
cent carbohydrates and 7.7 per cent fat, and makes 
a valuable human food, one that has been long and 
widely used by some of the hardiest European 
races. Its health and strength-giving qualities need 
no better adverti.sement than that furnished by the 
regiments of kilted Scottish soldiery. The grain is 
widely used in this country in the form of break¬ 
fast foods, and recipes are being formulated every 
day for its utilization in other ways. At the present 
time it is the cheapest of the so-called wheat sub- 
stitute.s, and one that can be used in the greatest 
variety of ways. 
CULTURAL METHODS. —The oat plant does 
best in a firm compact seed bed, and to obtain this 
A Giant Apple Tree in Blossom Time. Fig. 
human and animal food that tliey would, had they 
been seeded to the more hai-<l.\ oat. We are fac¬ 
ing unusual conditions. The man i)ower of Europe 
is engaged in war, and her farming lands devas¬ 
tated by the contending armie.s, leaving us to fur¬ 
nish food for her citizens; we have become ‘•our 
brother’s keeper.” Our entrance into the struggle 
does not relieve us of this obligation, but because 
<'f the raising of our National army and the em¬ 
ployment of the cream of farm labor in munitions 
factories and allied war industries, it di)es make 
the task more dillicult. A i)roblem thus presents 
itself, a problem of rabsing an increascal food sup¬ 
ply with less help, and to the mind of the winter 
the answer for the northern part of the country at 
least, is oats. 
tilth required for wheat and other crops of like 
nature, a telling i)oint in its favor under present 
labor conditions. Its analysis, as shown in the fol¬ 
lowing table compiled by the United States Rureau 
of Chemistr.v, comi»ares favorably with the analy.ses 
of the other cereals, and its straw being .softer. 
carrying 
more le 
aves. 
and under usual 
conditions 
Iteing cut 
gi’cener 
than 
that of the other grain crops. 
makes a 
valuable 
roug 
hage for 
the farm 
stock. 
Uompai 
■Ison of 
Cereals (water 
free). 
Rounds per 
100 pouud.s. 
Crude 
Carbohv- 
(Irain 
Ih'otoiu 
Fat 
Fiber 
drate.s 
Oat.s. . . , 
, 1:5.7 
4.3 
12.2 
60.:5 
Wlieat. . , 
, 14.2 
2.3 
2.8 
18.7 
Rye. 
, 13.4 
1.8 
2.3 
80.2 
Rarlev . . 
13.3 
1.8 
6.0 
70.0 
{.’o::;. . . , 
, 10. 
•’.-1 
0 '> 
S'* .0 
the plowing should be done in the Fall, permitting 
settling of the soil and the action of the frost in 
further pulverizing it. The Fall plowing is espe¬ 
cially desirable on clay or clayey soils, as they re¬ 
quire the fi'ost action more than the others. After 
plowing the bed furrows should be carefully 
cleaned, causing the surface water to run off 
quickly in the .Spring, and ])erniitting early working 
of the ground. This ability to get the seed in early 
is one of the controlling factors in oat-growing, as 
the plant grows better in the com])aratively cool 
weather of early Summer than it does in the hotter 
months which follow. The oat crop requires a 
great amount of water for develoi)ment, around 600 
pounds of water being retiuired for each pound of 
d-y mat^-ei* produced—and if the grab: 1- v.ot de- 
