The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-05-09
THE DAT CROP.
Facts and Figures Showing the Extent
and Value of This Farm Product.

Facts and Figures Showing the Extent
and Value of This Farm Product.
The oat crop is an important crop in
this country. That of 1884 was the
largest in area as well as in total prod
uct ever grown. The number of acres
in 1888 was little more than 20,000,.
600 and in 1884 over 2l,000,000 OF
acres, and the product in bushels was
in 1883 81, 1902, 400, and in 1884 583,.
628,000. The price in 1888 was nearly
cent greater per bushel than in 1884.
The total bushels of oats grown is
about one third that of corn, and the
total value OF the oat crop last year was
$161, 100000.
In Michigan the State report gives
the crop for 1883 at 587,811 acres and
9,27l, 1872 bushels, and the Department
of Agriculture gives the crop for 1884
as 597, 1854 acres and 19,990,000 bush
els, an average of 80 bushels per acre
and value of nearly $40 per acre.
This is of course low value of product
per acre, but it may be remembered
that the oat crop is the least costly
grain crop to raise and that the value
of the straw when properly cared for is
large addition to the value of the crop
to the farmer. ...-..
The January crop report showed that
the cost of oats per bushel averaged foI
the State 29.4 cents and the average
price was 1921 cents per buShel. The
value of straw was deducted from this
When that was added there would be
shown profit, as the value of an acre
of oat straw properly cured is at least
SIS. .'A F'''t
This value, too, is the average for tho
State. The cost is obtained from good
farmers, while the product is the aver
age-wheu well cultivated the crop is
much larger than the average, and there.
fore the cost per pushed less and the
profit greater. .t......r
The oat crop is also very sure crop
and grows on all soils. In most cases
it follows corn or potatoes preparatory
to seeding with grass or followed by
wheat 1t is generally considered to be
an exhausting crop to the soil, but il
that is true it is a good crop to feed and
return the fertilizing elements to the
soil again. On light soils it is good
crop to seed with if the season is not toe
dry, but on rich soils oats grow SO
strong that they are liable to lodge
and smother the young clover.
Oats grow best aud produce the
heaviest grain in moist, cool climates.
In such regions well north the grain
frequently weighs fifty pounds to the
measured bushel. The weight grows
less farther south and generally the
yield, until below forty degrees latitude
they cease to be paying crop. When
seed is brought from far north and sowr
in a warmer and dryer climate the
weight quickly decreases and in few
years declines to the standard of thirty.
two pounds per bushel or less.
In growing oats they should be sowr
as early as the soil will admit. I'm.
like some spring crops, they are moi
injured by cold and unreasonable
weather after sowing, and if this wealth
er is not long continued only seems to bC
a benefit rather than an injury, while il
sown late they are liable to reach ma
turity in drouth or be injured by rust
In view of the reasonable certainty of
crop, the ease of growing and the valu,
Of both grain and straw, oats may b,
considered good crop to raise in THU
State.-Detrou Post