76 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



maturity. Frosts or even hard freezes after they are seeded seldom do 

 injury, although prolonged wet weather immediately following seeding 

 may cause the seed to rot in the soil and reduce the stand. A few farmers 

 in the Northern states are now seeding ordinary spring oats in the late fall 

 or early winter, so timing the seeding that the oats will not germinate 

 until spring. This method is still in the experimental stage, and farmers 

 should try it only on a limited scale and in an experimental way until it is 

 demonstrated to be satisfactory. 



The rate of seeding depends on the character and condition of the 

 soil, the fertility of the soil, the quality of the seed, the size of the grains 

 and the manner of seeding. Fertile soils require less seed than poor 

 ones, because the plants tiller more. Abundance of seed should be used 

 on weedy land, and seed broadcasted should be used more freely than 

 when it is drilled. It will require more seed of the large-grained than of 

 the small-grained oats. 



In general, the rate of seeding ranges from 8 to 12 pecks per acre, 

 the smaller amount being used when drilled and the larger amount when 

 broadcasted. At several state experiment stations drilled oats have 

 yielded three to five bushels per acre more than oats broadcasted under 

 identical conditions. Where satisfactory results have not been secured 

 by drilling oats, it has usually been attributable to covering the seed too 

 deeply. Under average conditions oats should be covered from 1 to 1J 

 inches in depth, although in very loose soils or in a dry seed-bed, deeper 

 covering will be satisfactory. 



Oats as a Nurse Crop. Oats are frequently used as a nurse crop for 

 clovers and grasses. When used in this way early varieties and rather 

 thin seeding is advisable. This encourages a good catch and stand of 

 the clovers and grasses. 



Harvesting, Shocking and Threshing. Oats should be harvested 

 when the grain is in the hard dough stage. If allowed to become fully 

 ripe, the grain shatters badly in the process of harvesting, thus causing 

 considerable loss. When cut early the straw will have a higher feeding 

 value than when allowed to fully mature. Any shrinkage in grain that may 

 take place as a result of cutting early will be more than offset by the in- 

 creased value of straw. In regions where the straw is not utilized (and 

 there should be no such regions) the harvesting should be carefully timed 

 in order to secure the largest possible yield and yet avoid loss of grain. 



When cut rather green or when the straw is damp, or when the oats 

 are foul with weeds and grass, the harvester should be set for small 

 bundles. When harvested in a thoroughly ripe condition the bundles 

 may be placed into shocks immediately. When damp or green it is gen- 

 erally best to allow the bundles to lie several hours before shocking. 

 When the oats are in a good, dry condition round shocks with a cap sheaf 

 are to be preferred. Twelve bundles to each shock, exclusive of the cap 

 sheaf, is the best number. The cap sheaf should be broken near the 



