174 FIELD CROP."^ 



other method of preparation. Generally, where it is possible 

 to do the work, fall plowing followed by spring disking and 

 harrowing will produce the largest yields most economically, 

 because soils so prepared are usually in the best shape to 

 store up moisture for the use of the crop. Spring plowing 



Figure 69. — Some of the largest and heaviest grains out of the same lot as the 

 sample shown in Figure 68. Weight, 39 pounds to the bushel. 



frequently delays seeding, and unless the soil is thoroughly 

 packed to firm the lower layers, it is likely to be too loose for 

 the best results. 



Where oats follow some other small grain, the land is 

 quite generally plowed; but in the corn belt, where oats are 

 most largely grown, they are usually sown on the corn land 

 without plowing. The common practice is to disk the ground 

 thoroughly in the spring, making a mellow seed bed to a 

 depth of 3 or 4 inches, fining and smoothing the surface with 

 the spike-tooth harrow. In this way, veiy good results 

 may be expected at reasonable cost. In some cases, oats 

 are sown broadcast on land that has l^een neither disked nor 

 plowed, the only preparation given being the disking or 



