EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PAET III. 129 



been far from profitable, and the object of this paper is to call attention 

 to some of the reasons for the failure of this crop and to suggest a remedy. 

 The physician, when called upon to visit one who is sick, makes diligent 

 inquiry as to the condition of the patient, and endeavors to ascertain the 

 cause of the trouble, for on the successful diagnosis of the case the re- 

 covery largely depends. In like manner I will endeavor to point out some 

 of the causes for the repeated failures in the oats crop, by referring to 

 conditions that actually exist, the object of which is known to every ob- 

 serving person. 



In a systematic rotation, necessary to secure the best results, the greater 

 part of the oats crop follows corn, and it is certainly not surprising that 

 failure should result when the conditions as regards seed, preparation of 

 soil and other requisites are carefully considered. 



While in the breeding of animals and even in the selection of seed 

 corn, care is taken to secure the best, no heed is given to the quality of 

 the oats used for seed, the great majority of farmers not even using a 

 fanning mill to remove the light grains and the foul seeds, but sowing 

 the oats as they came from the threshing machine. 



Cattle are allowed to wade in the mud in the cornfield when the ground 

 is soft in the spring, causing lumps to form when the ground dries, and 

 no attempt is made to have the surface of the soil- smooth and even 

 before seeding. 



The eleven-foot seeder, which is in common use, bounces over the 

 inequalities of the ground, doing very imperfect work and distributing 

 the seed so unevenly that no amount of after-work will secure an even 

 and uniform stand. 



The seeder is followed by the disc harrow, the blades of which are 

 dull and rusted, and the great majority of farmers have not yet learned 

 how to use this implement in a proper manner as evidenced by the 

 appearance of the oats field throughout the state, when the young grain 

 shows above the ground in a rather successful attempt to imitate in living 

 green, our national emblem, with its stars and stripes. 



One or at most two strokes of the harrow after discing is considered 

 sufficient, and then the soil, the showers and the sunlight are depended 

 upon to bring forth a bountiful yield. And with favorable climatic condi- 

 tions an excellent crop is often secured, and the farmer, failing to realize 

 that fortune favored him, not on account of, but in spite of his slipshod 

 methods, congratulates himself on his success, and turns a deaf ear to 

 all who urge more care in the preparation of the seed, and a more thor- 

 ough cultivation of the soil. 



In due time the oats are cut and bound, the self-binder making this 

 easy work in comparison with former methods, but with all the levers 

 for the adjustment of the different parts of the harvester, too often the 

 sheaves as they drop from the machine are fearful and wonderful in their 

 shape and appearance. The adjustment of the reel in the varying condi- 

 tions of the grain in going on the level and up and down hill receives 

 scant consideration and as a result a square butted sheaf is the excep- 

 tion instead of the rule, as it ought to be. The binder also requires a 

 watchful eye to insure the placing of the band in the proper place, but as 

 a rule too little heed is given to th§ handling of the levers and anything 

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