372 THE farmers' handbook. 



make better quality hay and a better sample of chaff. This is a very 

 important point, as there is always considerable waste in feeding hay with 

 coarse stems or chaff that has been cut from coarse-stemmed varieties. 

 Under certain climatic conditions, and with certain varieties, 3 bushels of 

 seed per acre might not be an excessively heavy seeding- for hay. 



Oats for grain on the tablelands should be sown at the rate of 1 to li 

 bushels per acre, according to the time of sowing and the variety. In the 

 drier districts, a bushel to the acre is ample for grain; but under moist 

 conditions it may be advisable to sow as much as 2 bushels per acre, for 

 a heavy seeding under such conditions generally induces a more even 

 ripening. 



Manuring. 



Oats, like wheat, require manuring under most conditions, and respond 

 bountifully to the application of superphosphate. On most soils, from 40 to 

 56 lb. per acre will be found sufficient ; but on poorer lands the quantity can 

 be increased up to | cwt. with beneficial results. They appear to respond 

 much more to heavy manuring than wheat. When sown early in the season, 

 i cwt. of superphosphate is ample; but as the sowing season advances, the 

 quantity can be slightly increased. In coastal districts, where there are 

 practically no drills, and the manure (if used) has to be broadcasted, the 

 quantity per acre should be increased to double that recommended for 

 sowing with the drill. In some experiments conducted by the Department 

 the addition of a little nitrogenous fertiliser in combination with super- 

 phosphate has resulted in slightly higher yields. 



Treatment of the Growing Crop. 



Oats do not root as deeply as wheat, and do not appear to be benefited to 

 the same extent by frequent harrowing during the growing period, and they 

 are also much more readily torn up by the spikes of the harrows. If the 

 crop is sown very early, and has a tendency to grow too rank, it "will be 

 advisable to feed it off; but considerable judgment must be used in this 

 matter, as it is very easy to do more harm than good. It is wise to avoid 

 feeding off if possible, as in the majority of cases the effect is to reduce the 

 yield. This has been very apparent from a hay point of view. However, if 

 the crop has a tendency to grow too rank, and it is decided to feed off, the 

 earlier in the season the sheep are turned in the better. 



When to Cut for Hay. 



Although it is recommended that wheat should be cut for hay at the 

 flowering stage, to preserve the colour, &c. (one of the most important points 

 for the Sydney market in prime wheaten chaff), such is not the case with 

 oats. The best stage to cut oats for hay is when the upper tips of the 

 heads turn white ; at this stage the grain is fully formed, but only in the 

 dough stage. The presence of grain in oaten chaff is absolutely essential 

 for the Sydney market, and the chaff should be of a nice purplish-green 

 colour. In selecting varieties for hay, those that ripen from the top should 

 be selected. 



Some varieties, if cut before the seed has reached the stage indicated, 

 produce hay decidedly bitter in taste. 



