OAT (AS. Rtc, of unknown derivation). Numerous species of plants of the genus Arena, belonging to the order Graminew, or grasses. The commonest species. characterized by loose pan icles instead of spikes of flowers as in the case of wheat. barley. and rye, is of unknown nativity. but it. is believed to have been derived front a single prehistoric form, probably a native of eastern temperate Europe and of Tatary.
The common cultivated varieties of oats are classified under two groups., or types. based on the form of the panicles. namely. common oats with open spreading panicles, and Tartarian oats with contracted one-sided panicles. These types are sometimes considered as distinct species. the former as .1 rem: sa lira, the latter .I voila °rim ha/is. In general the varieties of oats differ in the color and thickness of the husk, the form of the grain. the length of the straw, and the time of ripening. In color they are usually yellow, Nvhite, or black. There are a number of species of but little importance, such as wild oats (Arena t aa), which is generally considered as a weed, but has become an abundant and valuable wild pasture grass in California; bristle-pointed oats (Arena striyusa), also a weed, but some times grown for green fodder; animated oats (Arena sieri/W, so named from the fact that when the dry awn absorbs moisture it untwists and thus gives motion to the grain; and short oat, (Arena brc ris ) , cultivated for its grain at high elevation in the mountainous of France and Spain, ripening when. other kinds do not, and also grown as a forage plant in other parts of Europe. See Colored Plate of The oat is a hardy plant, especially well adapted to temperate climates, and is not culti vated to any great extent in hot countries. It is extensively grown in the United States and Canada. in Great Britain, and in the countries of Northern Europe. It succeeds best in a cool, moist climate, but it will grow quite well in warmer regions if the soil is sufficiently moist. In hot and dry regions it grows very poorly. Oats are not a fastidious crop as to the char acter of the soil, and will grow on light or heavy soils, but are intolerant of excess of water. The
seed-bed fur oats is prepared about the same as for wheat and barley. but not quite so deep. In the Eastern United States the land is usually plowed before the oats are sown. but in the Western States, especially in new aml fertile regions, they are frequently sown on corn land without plowing and covered with a corn cul tivator or disk harrow, the surface of the soil being then smoothed with an ordinary harrow. When sown on unplowed land oats are always broadcasted. and on plowed ground the practices of both drilling and broadcasting prevail. On the whole, the greater portion of the crop is broad casted. From two to three bushels of seed is the usual quantity sown per acre. Oats are sown in the spring and in the fall. Spring-sown oats represent the bulk of the crop, while fall-sown or winter oats are limited to southern localities. When sown as early in the spring as possible the crop has the advantage of making most of its growth during the cooler part of the season, which is best adapted to its development. In northern latitudes it ripens in ninety days. or even less. but in southern regions a longer time is required.
From forty to sixty bushels per acre is con sidered a good yield. but much larger yields are sometimes obtained. Russia and the United States are the greatest oat-producing countries the world. In 1S99 the United State, produced 796,177.713 bushels. The average yield per acre in the United States for the years 1590 to 1599. was about 26.14 bushels. The highest average yields. about 40 bushels per sere, are produced by Germany and Great Britain. The oat, although quite free from insect enemies and plant diseases, is subject to rust and loose smut in a way similar to wheat. (See RusT: Scours.) Early maturing varieties are usually preferred because they often ripen before rust becomes injurious to the crop, and, on neconnt of being shorter in the straw, they are not so apt to lodge as late varieties. For a concise treatise on the culture of oats, consult ..\lorrow and Ilunt, Sails and Crops of flu Farm (Chicago, IS:12 I .