CULTURE OF OATS 297 



Results of Different Cultural Methods Compared. 



Where soil is naturally compact, as shown at Pennsylvania 

 Station, plowing gives better results. Sometimes oats are sown 

 on the uncultivated surface and the land plowed, turning the 

 oats under three or four inches deep. A medium compact seed 

 bed appears to give better results than one either very loose or 

 ver}- compact. While as in other cereals no marked differences 

 are found betsveen fall and spring plowing directly, yet because 

 it enables earlier seeding in the spring and facilitates spring 

 work, fall plowing is to be recommended in most instances. 



399. After Treatment. — Rolling either before or after oats 

 are up has not materially influenced the yield, although it is 

 often good practice on account of subsequent use of han-est- 

 ing machinery, particularly if land has been seeded to grass 

 Where a hard crust has fomied after sowing, harrowing or even 

 rolling may ser\-e to break this crust. If land is rolled when 

 too wet, it may so pack the soil as to prevent proper air venti- 

 lation and retard germination. The Wisconsin Station has 

 shown that the temperature of a rolled soil may be higher than 

 one that has not been rolled, and the percentage of moisture 



