258 DRY LAND FARMING 



which it matures. The straw is short, which is so far 

 against it, and the kernel is small, but it will frequently 

 produce a crop where later varieties would fail. Nearly 

 akin to it is the Kherson. The Burt and Swedish Select 

 have proved satisfactory. Where the rainfall is reason- 

 ably ample, such later maturing varieties as the Scottish 

 Chief, Black Beauty, Lincoln and White Abundance 

 may give larger yields than the early varieties. The 

 Texas Rust Proof is one of the best winter varieties. In 

 Utah the Boswell is well spoken of. 



Oats are not so hardy as wheat, and because of this 

 should not be sown quite so early. Usually, however, 

 after the wheat, spring rye and speltz crops have been 

 sown, it will be quite safe to sow oats. It is hazardous 

 to sow them late. The winter varieties should be sown 

 early enough to give them a good start before winter. 

 The sowing of oats in the spring should be completed 

 before it is time to plant corn, that is, not later, as a rule, 

 than the middle of May in northern areas. 



The crop should invariably be sown with the drill 

 where it is to be had. If a drill is not obtainable, it may 

 be a wise plan to sow the crop broadcast and cover it 

 with the disc, but under such a condition of sowing it 

 is not possible to cover the seed uniformly. 



The oat crop does not require burial so deeply as 

 will best meet the needs of the wheat crop. With ample 

 moisture near the surface, 2 inches would be amply deep 

 for oats in heavy soils, but in light and humus soils it 

 may be advantageous to plant them more deeply. They 

 will not germinate, of course, until they reach moisture. 



On well prepared land, 4 pecks of seed will be 

 enough for average soils, with many varieties. But some 

 varieties may call for more seed, as when they are pos- 

 sessed of a very large kernel. The stooling properties, 

 of course, have a bearing on the amount of seed that 

 should be used. It should seldom or never exceed 5 



