FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



OATS (A-oena.) The clear profits to be obtained, from 

 this crop, can never be very great \ tor, although fitly and 

 sometimes sixty bushels may be raised on an acre ; still the 

 value of the crop, according to the usual price obumtd tor 

 oats, is of no great amount. Their principal recommenda- 

 tion is, that they are an excelent food tor Horses, particu- 

 larly in traveling, being of a loosening nature; while most 

 other grains are binding. 



Oats require a soil 9 and a climate, sufficiently moist, 

 Dry, gravelly, or sandy soils are the most unfit tor this 

 grain; and particularly where drought is apt to prevail? 

 during the growing of the crop. 



In most climates, it is best to sow oats as soon as the 

 ground can be properly prepared in the Spring ; but, where 

 drought is not to be expected, they may be sown at any 

 time that will enable the crop to ripen before the close of 

 the season. 



The crop should be harvested rather green, as this makes 

 the straw much better for fodder, without any injury to the 

 grain. Gypsum is a suitable manure for the crop. It is 

 usual to sow two bushels of seed to the acre; but we have 

 seen very good crops raised, where only halt this allowance 

 ot seed was sown. Probably, about a bushel and a halt is 

 sufficient. 



Oats are usually considered as being rather a scourger of 

 the ground; but we believe this is a mistake. We have 

 seen a piece of land, which was intervale, however, sowed 

 eighteen years successively with this grain, without ma- 

 nure, and without any sensible diminution of the crop. 



At the same time, when wheat is sown immediately after 

 oats, the latter crop will be lessened more in product, than 

 by any other crop which could have preceded it. 



As it is usually thought necessary for every Farmer to 

 raise some oats; and as the crop can never be very profita- 

 ble, unless attended with but little labor ; perhaps the best 

 plan may frequently be found, to select some suitable 

 ground, and keep it yearly sown with this crop ; particularly 

 where gypsum can be profitably applied as a manure. 



Let the gypsum be sown on ths ground after the crop is 

 harrowed in. As soon as it is harvested, this manure will 

 produce a growth of white-clover^ which will be of consider- 

 able value for Fall-feeding. 



Early in the next Spring, turn the ground carefully over, 

 harrow another crop, and sow gypsum as before ; and SQ 

 on, year after year. Let the ground be ploughed but one 

 way ; let the lands be of uniform width, and the gathering 

 and parting furrows alternate, as directed under article 

 PLOUGHING. 



