FIELD CROPS 487 



necessary, is to sow the seed on clean ground which has been disked, 

 covering it about 3 inches deep with the turning plow. The ground 

 should then be left rather rough, as the uneven surface furnishea 

 some protection for the plants. More seed should be used in broad- 

 cast seeding than in drilling. 



The use of the grain drill in sowing winter oats is strongly 

 recommended. Drilling produces a more uniform stand and more 

 even germination and growth than broadcast seeding. Drilling 

 also requires less seed and the plants are less likely to winterkill. 

 Drilling at least 3 inches deep on well-prepared land, leaving the 

 drill furrows as open as possible, is advised. Drag chains should 

 not be used on the drill, nor should the land be harrowed after 

 drilling. This leaves the seed in the bottom of shallow furrows, 

 which in a measure protect the young plants from winterkilling. 



As the grains of varieties of the Red Rustproof type are likely 

 to stick together, the drill should be watched closely to see that the 

 seed is being evenly distributed. A drill with a good force feed will 

 sow this variety quite satisfactorily. 



The Georgia Experiment Station a number of years ago devised 

 what is known as the open-furrow method of seeding oats. By this 

 method the seed is sown in drills from 16 to 24 inches apart, the or- 

 dinary single-row planter or a specially devised drill 'being used for 

 the purpose. If desired, a drill with a fertilizer attachment may be 

 used and the fertilizer distributed in the furrows with the seed. 



The seed is sown in drills or furrows several inches deep, so 

 that the roots and crowns of the plants are 2 or 3 inches below the 

 surface. The rains and alternate freezing and thawing partially fill 

 these furrows, but the plants are still left well below the surface. 

 Running the drills across the usual direction of the winter winds is 

 recommended by the Georgia station as an additional protection, 

 as the slight wall of earth prevents the full force of the wind from 

 striking the plants. Thus, if the coldest winter winds are ordinarily 

 from the northwest, the drills should run northeast and southwest 



The rate of seeding usually recommended for Red Rustproof 

 and similar varieties of oats when sown with the open-furrow drill is 

 2 bushels to the acre. When sown with the ordinary drill 2% 

 bushels is about the proper rate. Broadcast seeding requires still 

 more seed, from 3 to 4 bushels being necessary. As the Winter Turf 

 oats is somewhat hardier and stools more than the Red Rustproof, 

 it may be seeded at a lower rate, from l 1 /^ to 2 bushels when drilled 

 or 2 1 /! bushels when sown broadcast. In the northern portion of 

 the winter-oat area, where the danger from winterkilling is great, 

 and farther south when late seeding is necessary, the rate of seed- 

 ing should be somewhat increased. 



From 2 l /2 to 3 bushels of the Red Rustproof or Culberson and 

 2 to 2y 2 bushels of the Winter Turf are about the proper rates of 

 seeding for the colder portions of the winter-oat belt. When the 

 crop is to be used for pasture or hay somewhat heavier seeding is 

 advisable than where it is grown for grain. When used as a nurse 



