* 

 OATS CLIMATE, SOILS, TILLAGE, USES 293 



either the ordinary grain drill or the open-furrow drill. The 

 rate of seeding for the Winter Turf oats is often somewhat 

 less than for the Red Rust-proof type, owing to the hardi- 

 ness of the former and its tendency to stool readily. Late 

 seeding of any variety requires more seed to the acre than 

 early seeding. In the extreme northern part of the cotton- 

 belt where the winters are rather severe, a heavier rate 

 of seeding is advisable than for more southern sections. 

 Owing to the tendency of oats to stool and thus occupy 

 all of the available space, the rate of seeding is subject 

 to considerable variation without materially affecting 

 the yield. 



356. Subsequent care. It is quite common to give 

 the oats no further treatment from seeding until harvest. 

 Special conditions often render advisable certain practices 

 in caring for the crop, the most important of which are 

 here given. 



(1) Rolling the land as soon as possible after heaving 

 takes place to settle the lifted plants into closer contact 

 with the soil. Heaving is worse on clay soils and injury 

 will result if such soils are rolled when wet. 



(2) Harrowing in the early spring to keep weeds in check 

 and to prevent the excessive loss of moisture by breaking 

 the surface crust. It is important that land seeded by the 

 open-furrow method be harrowed in the spring to partially 

 fill the furrows and level down the ridges between the fur- 

 rows. 



(3) Top-dressing the oats in the fall with barnyard 

 manure or in the spring with 75 to 100 pounds of nitrate 

 of soda to the acre.. 



(4) Oats sown very early in the fall are sometimes pas- 

 tured during the winter to prevent the formation of stems 

 before all danger of freezing weather is past. Oats should 



