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AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. o 



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266. In the northern States, oats are always |bwn in spring, 

 from the commencement of vegetation to the begining of June;. 

 They are a favorite crop to sow upon plowed so5f u: ^EJ3ji &amp;gt; .^uaTi- 

 tity of seed varies from two to four bushels an acre; in Scot 

 land six bushels are sown ; under most circumstances, the larger 

 quantity is preferable. The seed should be well harrowed in 

 and rolled. 



267. The best time for harvesting is before the grain isquito 

 ripe, and while the straw is partially green. Oats may be cut 

 with a sickle, cradle, scythe, or machine; but should be left for 

 a few days in swath, before binding, when the grain will ma 

 ture. Oats thus cut before they are quite ripe are larger, and 

 heavier, while the straw, as fodder, is more nutritious. Oats, 

 cut as above, do not appear to be inferior in any respect. 

 (312.) 



268. Oat straw is more esteemed for fodder than that of 

 wheat, barley, or rye. According to experiments made in Ger 

 many by Viet, 200 Ibs. of oat straw with the chaff are equiva 

 lent to 100 Ibs. of good hay, though, for the United States, this 

 estimate is probably too low. If not too ripe when cut, and if 

 saved in good condition, cattle in stables can be kept during 

 winter in improving condition upon this straw alone. Late ex 

 periments in Scotland have proved oat-straw to be fully equal to 

 hay for animals fattening on roots. 



169. In this country, there is no insect peculiarly injurious 

 to oats. In common with other grains, it occasionally suffers 

 from the Wire worm. 



270. Smut (Black heads,) (Ifredo SegetumJ appears to be 

 the only fungus to which it is generally subject, and this, rarefy, 

 to any great extent. 



271. There are no weeds peculiar to this crop. 



In soils where Wild Mustard (Sinapis arvensis,} and Wild Radish 

 (Raphanus raphanistrum,) are abundant, oats are perhaps more seri- 



