favourable for the Growth of Seed. 
61 
tlie substitute ; and cases are very rare in which either wheat or 
barley can displace the oat from old and rich turf newly 
ploughed up. I do not here include clover-leys and such artificial 
grass-turf, but I think, with these exceptions, there is no corn-crop 
which will penetrate and break up an old turf as well as the 
oat ; the reason is because turf presents just that condition of soil 
which meets the requirements of its roots, and, if the seed requires 
a light covering, this is generally produced by an exposure of the 
soil to frost and a light tillage of the land. To favour this result 
the turf should be ploughed whilst moderately moist, but the surface 
should not be broken down for sowing until it is in dry working 
order ; the same degree of moisture which favours the solidity of 
the turf, would, if the surface be cultivated at the same time, 
render it close and adhesive and quite unfavourable to the ger- 
mination of the seed. 
The sowing of oats commences in Febrviary, and in some of 
the midland districts as early as January, but the great bulk is 
sown in March. There is a very general feeling in favour 
of early sowing, and the practice is certainly altering in that 
direction. When oats are sown upon turf, it becomes much 
more necessary to sow early, than when they follow a root-crop or 
bastard fallow. The great objection is the influence of frost, 
which frequently gives a bluish tint to the blade, but, if the land 
is in fair condition, will not materially injure the crop. A larger 
proportion of oats than of any other grain is sown broad-cast, 
chiefly because an earlier seed-time can thus be secured. It often 
happens that the ground will haiTow well when it is not dry 
enough for drilling ; and in wet districts, with the uncertainty of 
spring weather, waiting for the drill frequently involves a con- 
siderable loss of time, and thus much is sown broad-cast even 
where the drill would in some respects be preferable. 
Upon land which is foul, and especially on old grass-land, it is 
very important to drill the seed, as we thus secure an opportunity 
for destroying the weeds, which would otherwise materially injure 
the crop. After the seed is sown, the land should be well harrowed 
so as to cover the seed thoroughly. The use of the roller depends 
much on circumstances ; if the ground has been ploughed late 
and is not in a favourable condition, the roller will be employed 
to reduce it to a fine tilth, but this will precede the sowing. As 
a general rule (and especially in the case of early sowings), the 
ground is better not rolled down smooth after the seed is deposited, 
but should be left rough from the han-ow. This roughness 
will be attended with a double advantage ; for it will protect the 
plant from the severity of the cold winds, and, by the time these 
are past and the oats are ready for rolling, these rough portions 
of the soil will be nicely mellowed, so that the crop will then be 
