CULTIVATION OF OATS 



165 



to mixed barley straw, owing to the long beards. Early oats should 

 be used in order to ripen with the barley. 



Oats and Canada field peas are often sown to be cut either green 

 for soiling or cured as hay. It makes an excellent forage, equal to 

 timothy hay. About equal amounts of oats and peas (by measure) 

 are mixed and sown at the rate of two to three bushels per acre. 



Where the oat stubble is used as fall pasture, it may be improved 

 by sowing two to three pounds of rape with the oats. It may be 

 sown with the oats, but preferably two or three weeks later, and 

 harrowed in. After the oats are harvested the rape will grow until 

 frost. 



Cultivation of Oats. Cultivation is recognized as of value to 

 many crops, as vegetables or corn. The question has often arisen in 

 connection witli the culture of small grains. Tests have been made 

 where oats were sown in drill rows twelve to eighteen inches apart, 

 and cultivation given with various tools. In general, sowing in wide 

 rows has not given increased yields except under very dry conditions. 

 Where oats are sown in regular six- or eight-inch drill rows, increased 

 yields have been obtained in dry years by harrowing or by using a 

 weeder. 



The oats should be allowed to become well rooted, about three 

 weeks' growth, and may then be harrowed with very little damage 

 to the oats. Ordinarily, two or three harrowings, about one week 

 apart, may be given before the growth is too large. A peg-tooth 

 harrow, set at a good slant, is used, or better, a weeder. 



However, the oats should be drilled, as a large percentage of the 

 plants are likely to be destroyed with broadcast oats. A comparison 

 of harrowing, drilled, or broadcast oats was made at Nebraska with 

 an average for four years as follows 9 : 



Influence of Harrowing Oats 



Nebraska Bulletin 113, 14. 



