192 FIELD CROPS 



Harrowing oats which were sown broadcast destroys a part 

 of the plants and thus lessens the stand. Drilled oats should 

 be harrowed in the direction of the drill rows and not across 

 them. The roller may be used instead of the harrow while 

 the plants are small. After the plants are too high to work 

 with the harrow, cultivation may be continued for some time 

 by using a light weeder. Two or three cultivations are about 

 all that are usually profitable, and in sections where the rain- 

 fall is sufficient for the best growth of the crop, even these 

 may be an added expense without adequate return. The 

 only good which is then accomplished is the destroying of 

 weeds. 



233. Irrigation. In the Rocky Mountain and Pacific 

 states, large acreages of oats are grown under irrigation. 

 The depth of water which is applied generally ranges from 

 15 to 20 inches; that is, sufficient water to cover the soil to 

 this depth if all was applied at the same time. Usually, 

 however, the water is put on in two or three applications, 

 and is applied so slowly that it soaks into the soil within a 

 few hours after the supply is shut off. Water is generally 

 supplied about the time heading begins and again when the 

 grain is filling, though sometimes the land is irrigated before 

 or immediately after seeding. 



HARVESTING THE CROP 



234. Cutting. There is little or no difference in the 

 methods of harvesting oats and those which have already 

 been given for harvesting wheat. The crop is usually cut 

 with the binder, though occasionally the header is used in 

 some of the drier sections. When the straw is very short, 

 due to continued dry weather, the crop may be cut with the 

 mower, raked into shocks and handled like hay. It may then 

 be stacked and thrashed the same as grain in bundles, or it 



