546 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



this to the grain value, would bring it in close competition with hay as 

 the second most valuable crop in the State. 



We must have some crop with which to seed our timothy and clover 

 and to form a proper rotation of crops, and it is very doubtful if any 

 will serve the purpose better than oats. 



Our success in growing oats, like corn, depends largely upon the va- 

 riety and quality of the seed sown. The early varieties usually give 

 larger yields and grain of better quality than the late varieties, besides, 

 one is sure of getting them cut and shocked before the July storms have 

 twisted and blown them to the ground. 



The variety known as "Early Champion" has been grown in this 

 county (Story) for about ten years, and is being grown in many neighbor- 

 hoods to the exclusion of almost every other variety. 



All seed oats should be run through a good fanning mill to remove 

 mustard, weed seed, sticks, straw and light oats, so that the seeder may 

 do perfect work. About three bushels per acre should be sown, but in 

 seeding clover with oats, and I believe every farmer ought to sow clover 

 with one half or more of his oat crop, then two and one half bushels of 

 seed per acre is enough. We get a few less bushels of oats per acre, but 

 the clover will be enough better to more than make up the loss. 



Professor Holden has told us that the Formalin treatment to rid 

 seed oats of smut will increase the crop from five to fifteen per cent. We 

 should get acquainted with this treatment and all use it. 



Don't sow oats that have been hot in the stack or bin, as there is too 

 much danger of getting a thin stand and poor crop. 



The best oats are grown on land that is moderately strong, and that 

 has grown a crop of corn the previous year. It seldom pays to sow oats 

 on a field that has grown oats or other small grain the previous year. 



Oats should have a fine, mellow seed bed, so as to get the seed well 

 covered, but the seed bed should not be too deep. If the field is rigid 

 from plowing the corn the previous year, it should be worked over with 

 the disk or spader before the seed is sown. Unless you do this two thirds 

 of the seed will be in the low part between rows, and the stand of oats 

 on the ridges very thin. 



After seeding disk the field again and harrow until the seed is well 

 covered, the field level and the cornstalks well torn to pieces and scat- 

 tered. 



Oats should be cut before they are quite ripe. If a little green there 

 will be slight waste from shattering, the straw will be better and they 

 can be shocked much easier and better. 



Eight to ten bundles is enough to stand up for a shock. :\Iake your 

 shocks straight, round and compact. Sit each bundle down solid. Draw 

 the top of the bundles together when the shock is finished, then break 

 one bundle and lay it on the shock solidly and carefully so the top is 

 well covered, with the head of the cap sheaf to the west. Place but ono 

 cap sheaf on the shock, and by putting the head to the west but few 

 caps will be blown off. 



