OATS. 361 



Climate and Districts. 



Oats may be grown with a fair amount of success under a diversity of 

 climatic conditions, but they thrive best in a cold climate, associated with 

 a good rainfall that is evenly distributed throughout the crop-growing 

 season. As previously mentioned, the climate of this State, taken on the 

 whole, is much more adapted to wheat-growing; but in some of the colder 

 districts oats may be grown almost to perfection. In a general way, it can 

 be said that a good potato district will, as a rule, prove suitable for growing 

 oats, as these crops require similar conditions of climate. As an example 

 of this, we may take portions of the Northern Tablelands of the State. 

 Some of our very best potato districts are situated there, and at the same 

 time -nine of our best oat districts. Glen Iniics, in particular, is a district 

 where the climatic conditions are favourable to the production of potatoes 

 and eats of the highest quality; and there are ether portions id' the State 

 that are similar in their suitability for the two crops. 



On the Central Tablelands, from Blayney to Orange, is the pick id' the eat 

 country, although seme exceptionally good returns have been obtained in the 

 Bathurst district. On the Southern line, the best oat districts are situated 

 in the vicinity of Goulburn, Taralga, and Crookwell; and some excellent 

 crops have been grown in the country between Junee and Anbury. The 

 districts mentioned can he classed as about the best for oat-growing, but 

 good crops can he grown in any wheat district by choosing varieties adapted 

 to the local climatic conditions. So that to-day the position is far different 

 from that of ten years ago, when Algerian was the only variety grown in 

 the warmer districts. 



In districts with a lower average rainfall than 25 inches the short, white 

 oat favoured in Scotland and New Zealand for oatmeal cannot be grown to 

 perfection, but in such districts oats may be largely grown if proper 

 early maturing varieties are employed. 



Soils. 



Oats may be grown successfully on soils entirely unsuited to wheat, and 

 also on low-lying situations where it would be extremely inadvisable to 

 plant wheat. They may be sown on land that is too strong and rich for wheat, 

 and also upon heavy, wet soils, that have a natural tendency to be cold and 

 sour. The red basaltic soils met with in the best potato-growing districts 

 produce excellent crops of oats; but the crop will do well on practically any 

 soil, provided it is worked into good tilth previous to planting and the 

 rainfall is not too low. Oats are often grown on new land which has not 

 been sweetened after clearing of timber, and although yielding a better crop 

 on undrained soil than wheat and barley, they respond well to drainage and 

 good cultivation. 



The Preparation of the Land. 



Land intended for oats should be prepared in a similar manner to that 

 intended for wheat, except that in the more favoured oat districts slightly 

 deeper ploughing may prove advantageous. In the drier districts fallowing 

 is essential to obtain the best results; and, in regard to the time the 

 operation should be commenced, the same general remarks apply as to wheat, 



