484 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



or other cultivated crops may be substituted for corn if desired. 

 Where clover does not succeed, or where a permanent meadow is 

 not wanted, the following rotation is a good one: First year, corn, 

 with cowpeas in the corn; second year, wheat, followed by cowpeas, 

 which are cut for hay; third year oats, followed by cowpeas, 

 eorghum, or some other forage crop. 



If desired, rye may be sown after the forage crop is harvested, 

 or the forage crop may be omitted and crimson clover sown early 

 in the fall. The rye or crimson clover is then plowed under the 

 following spring for corn. Other rotations along similar lines can 

 be arranged, according to the crops it is desired to grow. 



Preparation of the Land. The method of preparation of the 

 land depends to some extent on the previous treatment it has re- 

 ceived and on the character of the soil. In any case a loose, 

 mellow seed bed should be prepared, as the success of the crop de- 

 pends in a large measure on the condition of the seed bed and on 

 the fall growth. 



In general, the land should be plowed 5 or 6 inches deep at 

 least a month before the oats are to be sown, and the plow followed 

 immediately by the spike-tooth or other smoothing harrow. 

 Double disking and another harrowing should then put it in shape 

 for drilling. Additional disking and harrowing may be necessary, 

 if the ground is hard and rough. If it is loose from recent plowing, the 

 roller or plank drag may be used to make a more compact seed bed. 

 Rolling may often be done to advantage on loose, sandy land, but 

 on the heavier loam and clay soils the roller should always be fol- 

 lowed with the harrow to break the crust and check evaporation. 

 If the land has been thoroughly plowed the preceding spring for 

 eome other crop and has been thoroughly cultivated throughout the 

 season, disking and harrowing may take the place of plowing, es- 

 pecially on sandy land. The fertilizer may be distributed when the 

 seed is sown if the oats are to be drilled ; otherwise, it should be ap- 

 plied before the last harrowing. 



Sowing the Seed. The success of the winter-oat crop depends 

 in a large measure on the time, the rate, and the manner of seeding. 

 Early seeding with the grain drill or in open furrows, using 2 

 bushels of seed to the acre, is recommended. 



Winter oats are less hardy than winter wheat or barley and for 

 that reason should be sown earlier, so that the plants may become 

 well rooted and make considerable top growth before cold weather. 

 Oats are seldom attacked by insects in the fall, so that there is no 

 necessity for delay in seeding, as with wheat where the Hessian fly 

 is common. In tne extreme South, seeding need not be done until 

 November, but farther north September and October are the best 

 months. 



Winter oats are sometimes sown broadcast, but this method is 

 not to be recommended. When sown broadcast and harrowed in, 

 much of the seed is left near the surface, even in well-prepared 

 ground, so that many of the plants are shallow rooted and are killed 

 by heaving or cold. A better method, where broadcast seeding is 



