i2oo Rural School Leaflet 



to soak into the ground and making it possible to stir the ground and sow 

 the oats at an earlier date in the spring than if the plowing is deferred 

 until the opening of spring. However, good crops of oats can be raised 

 on spring-plowed land if enough care is used in fitting the seed bed. The 

 seed bed for oats should be fairly compact, level, and fine to a depth 

 of two inches. 



Fertilizers. — On land that normally causes oats to lodge, no nitrogen 

 should be added in the way of fertilizers. Potash and phosphoric acid 

 in moderate quantities may prove beneficial. The use of lime is claimed 

 to be beneficial to the oat crop, and it is needed on many soils in order 

 to insure a good crop of clover following the oats. A moderate applica- 

 tion of one thousand pounds per acre of any good agricultural lime may be 

 used if the soil is not well stocked with lime. 



Seed. — Because oats are naturally adapted to a cool climate, it is 

 often advantageous to use seed from a region farther north, or at least 

 from a region that produces large yields of oats. If good seed can be 

 obtained near by from varieties that have proved their worth as yielders 

 such varieties can be used. Some varieties of oats tend to decrease in 

 yield the longer they are grown in a locality. The introduction of new 

 varieties from better oat-growing regions is sound policy. Some kinds 

 of oats are very susceptible to the attacks of loose oat smut. If the seed 

 used has had any of this disease present in the past, it should be treated 

 with a solution of formalin and water in order to kill the smut spores before 

 sowing the seed. 



Harvesting. — If a good stand of oats is obtained and weeds and grass 

 are not abundant, the crop is best harvested with a twine binder. Oat 

 sheaves are more dim cult to cure than are wheat sheaves. They may be 

 set up in longer shocks, two sheaves wide without any caps, if the weather 

 is fine. If rain threatens, cap-sheaves may be added if the oats are not 

 yet cured. If weeds are numerous enough in the oat field to make curing 

 difficult, it will be better to cut the crop with a side-delivery reaper, and 

 turn the gavels of oats with a fork as they lie unbound on the ground 

 so as to facilitate curing. If wet through by rain they can be dried out 

 in a few days. In order to insure saving the grain it is best to cut the 

 crop before all the stalks are ripe or while some are yet greenish in appear- 

 ance. Cutting when too green will make a lighter yield of grain. 



"Near at hand. 

 From under the sheltering trees, 

 The farmer sees 



His pastures and his fields of grain 

 As they bend their tops 

 To the numberless beating drops 

 Of the incessant rain." 



HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW 



