172 FARM CROPS 



South they may be plowed during the winter sea- 

 son. Since the oat crop is hardy and can stand 

 considerable cold and moisture, it is our earliest 

 field crop to go into the ground in the spring. 

 Hence early preparation of the soil aids in seed 

 sowing as soon as winter weather has disappeared. 

 A week or two gained at seeding time is to be pre- 

 ferred to an extension, when warm and drier 

 weather comes. 



It pays to give attention to the preparation of 

 land. You should compact the soil, using the roller 

 if necessary, and rid the land of clods and uneven 

 places. The same care as that given to wheat or 

 corn will pay with oats. In seeding use from 2 to 

 3 bushels to the acre. As commonly practiced, 

 oats may be disked or drilled, but the latter has 

 proven more satisfactory because of evenness of 

 distribution and covering of seed. The seed should 

 be covered to a depth of from 2 to 3 inches. Fall 

 seeding of oats in the Northern states has not 

 proven very satisfactory, the best time being from 

 the last of February to the first week in April, the 

 nature of the season influencing the time. Spring 

 seeding in the South should be a month to six 

 weeks earlier than the time suggested for more 

 northern latitudes. The best time for seeding oats 

 in the Southern states is between the middle of 

 October and the first of December. They grow 

 more or less during the winter months, get a good 

 start when spring opens, and are matured before 

 hot weather arrives. 



Manures May Be Used. — ^Where corn has pre- 

 ceded the oat crop and been heavily fertilized with 

 stable manure and chemical fertilizers as well, and 

 .during the season well cultivated, you have quite 



