Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-05-01
IMPERIALO

Among the numerous varieties Of oats
at present cultivated in this country, the
Imperial variety deserves particular attcn
ton, not only on account Of the ease with
which it is cultivated, the produce per
acre, and its superior weight, but sIso TO
crafty the laudable ambition that every
farmer should possess, to raise the best of
every thing on his farm
Some 7 or 8 years since, a quantity of
these oats was sent out from London to
Mr. Alexander Smith, scotsman of this
city, who has cultivated them since that
time. When he first received them they
weighed AZ lbs. per bushel. By cultiva-
ton IN this country they have improved in
weight, until they now weigh from 40 to
AZ lbs, according to the soil, season, and
care IN cleaning.
Several years ago, Mr. S. sold some of
the seed TO gentleman on Long Island,
who supplied Mrs. P. Ludlow with them.
| saw, few days since, sample of Mrs
Ludlow's oats, which she has cultivated
for five years, weighed at Mr. Smiths
They weighed AZ lbs. per bushe. Mr.
Smiths crop Of this season, weighs 46
pounds,
Mr. A. Stevens, of Genessce county,
has raised this variety Of oats two years.
He also had an opportunity of observing
this cultivation for severa! successive
years. He found that they yielded more
per acre sown under like circumstances,
than the common oat for while the former
weighing Al lbs, the latter, well cleaned
only weighed 80 lbs, per bushcl, The
third year, in consequence ofthe dryness
of the season, Mr. Stevens observes that
the crop fell off to SO lbs, but the
next season they recovered their original
weight, He thinks they had not become
accllmatcd, and that such an occurance
will not take place again; for in 1871
some ofthcse oats were sown, no rain fell
on them for six weeks, the summer was
dry and warm, but yet the crop weighed
"A lbs. per bushel.
These oats, like all other grains, should
be sown on good soil. lfitrequires ma
nure, it had better be applied to such a
crop as is improved by barn yard ma
nure; for example, corn or potatoes; and
then the oats sown the succeeding year.
In cutivating them, the ground should
be plowed as soon as possible in the
spring, the oats sown in the pIowed fur
row, and then well narrowed in. If the
intention be to seed the land down with
grass, which has proved good plan with
me, then the oats should be sown first,
the grass seed next and after the ground
narrowed with the common harrow, it
should be well brushed harowed or roll,
ed.
From 9 to 8 bushels of seed should be
sown to the acre More or less seed, ac-
cording to the quality Of the soil. Rich
and wel-cutiyated ground requiring less
than poorer soil, as the oats will till bet
ter. Great care should be employed in
harvesting the crop, as the grain shells
vcrn easily. The crop should be cut
ccrly while the berry is full and soft, even
before all the straw has turned yellow,
else large quality Of the grain will be
lost, and what you have will be darker,
lighter in weight, aud more husky.
From the above it does not appear that
these Imperial oats degenerate, as was re-
marked by General Talmadge before the
Farmers Club in this city. All those who
have cultivated them, consider them supe-
rior to any other variety at present raised
in our country.