ECONOMIC PLANTS 205 



It is now quite a common practice to add water to 

 corn silage if it goes into the silo in a dry state because 

 of drought or very hot weather. About ten pounds of 

 water to the square foot when filled, and a like quantity 

 ten days afterwards, has been tried at the Wisconsin 

 Experiment Station with satisfactory results. 



Oats. In latitudes too far north to grow corn 

 successfully, oats thrive, while they will also grow well 

 in all the Gulf states if sown in the fall. Somewhat 

 heavy loams give the best yield, although most varie- 

 ties of soils, except the lightest, will produce a good crop 

 unless there may be too much humus present, in which 

 case the plant runs to straw and yields little grain. 

 As a rule, oats do not require direct fertilizing unless 

 there is a lack of organic matter in the soil. Manure 

 must be used sparingly, if at all, or the oats straw will 

 be heavy and lodge easily in the summer rains. 



Fall plowing, followed by spring harrowing and early 

 sowing, either broadcast or in drills, is generally con- 

 sidered best for oats, although in America good crops 

 are obtained without plowing the ground if the oats 

 are put in a field previously planted to corn. Eight 

 to ten pecks will seed an acre of ground. 



It is a common thing in Canada to see' barley and 

 oats or these two and field peas sown together, the 

 grain yield being better than would be produced from 

 each separately. In the south hairy vetch is often 

 mixed with oats when grown for fodder. If sown in 

 the fall, these two followed by a crop of peas make the 

 land in fine condition for cotton the next spring. 



Note. Since most varieties of oats stool freely and a single kernel 

 produces a number of stalks of grain, some farmers seed sparingly, 

 claiming that just as good results are obtained as if a larger amount of 



