Our Oat Crop. 319. 



of drilling. Ontario (annual report, 1898), shows tliat yields have been 

 increased at Guelph 4 hnshels per acre yearly I'oi' llu'cc years hy di-ill- 

 ing. 



These results are conclusive,' and definite increases in yield can be 

 expected by a more thorough preparation of the soil and sowing with a 

 drill instead of broadcasting. A disk drill is preferable because it acts 

 as a cultivator and will cover better when running through corn stalks. 

 These increases in yield are probably due to better gp,rmination and 

 stronger plants which were produced by having the grain well covered 

 with moist, fine dirt. The root systems of the plants can also become 

 more thoroughly established when the grain is planted to a proper depth. 



Amount to Soiv. — The yield of oats varies somewhat with the rate of 

 seeding. No definite rule can be laid down as to how much seed to sow. 

 Last season an experiment was conducted at Columbia with Kherson 

 oats along this line. Three rates of seeding were used, eight, ten and 

 twelve pecks — all oats drilled in. 



The differences in yield were not large, being about 1.5 bushels in 

 favor of the ten pecks seeding. The weight per bushel and yield of straw 

 increased with the rate of seeding. On the whole, ten pecks seems to be 

 the best amount to sow and will make a good seeding on the average 

 lands of the State. Work done at the Ohio Station (circular 88) cor- 

 responds closely to these results. They found that eleven pecks per acre 

 gave best returns. For very fertile soils the rate of seeding can be some- 

 what reduced and on poor soils increased. A heavier seeding is needed 

 on poorer soils because the plants do not stool well on such lands, and 

 more seed is required to get sufficient stand to give good results. 



Time to Soiv. — The time of sowing, of course,_ varies with the season. 

 In general, farmers in South Missouri attempt to get their oats in 

 during the latter part of February and the first of March. The date of 

 seeding gets later going north. In North Missouri oats are put in the 

 last of March and the first two weeks in April on the average. The 

 earlier oats can be seeded in this State the better, because the oat plant 

 makes its best growth and stools best during cool, moist weather. They 

 do not do well when the weather becomes very warm. For this reason 

 early seeding and the use of early maturing varieties is advisable. 



Rust.—Ued rust is one of the worst enemies of oats in this State. It 

 can be found almost any season but does its greatest damage in a warm, 

 wet spring. In 1908, after such a spring, the oat crop was practically 

 a total failure. No remedy is known other than the use of a rust re- 

 sisting variety. The Texas Red Rust Proof is the only variety which 

 has given satisfactory evidence of being rust resistant. 



