The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-05-31
gaj!si GU 4 / UJRAzas

best articles on the cultivation OF
oats which has appeared, is the Es-
say Of j., RoWlandson, as published
in the last number of the (Brit-
@ish Farmers Magazine. AS the
Same rules Of cultivation vii! ap.
ply in great measure to both coun,
tries, we shall perhaps render an ac-
5ceptables service to our readers by
giving a brief outline Of the facts sta
ted in that article, 80 far as they
may be Of general application.
ss SoH.--Any soil in good condition
will produce good crops Of oats--they
can be pro6tably grown on soils too
poor for other cereals, rye excepted
--and on all interminable stages of
fertility up to rich virgin land. Some
rich, newly drained peat soils have
produced from 80 to 100 bushels of
light grain per acre. With regard
to climate, oats will flourish under
very wide range. The heaviest and
best crops are grown on soils the
most productive of ordinary farm
crops. For all seasons, friable loan
situated on broken lime stone, has
been found best. Heavier or more
4cloddy soils are apt to suffer from
idrouth, to remedy which SOW early
and rather thick. If sown late and
thin, miserable crop will be the re-
suit. On marty soil, the grain is
heaviest, being often As or 46 lbs. per
bushel--heavier, crops, however, are
obtained on rather looser Of more fri
able soils. The heaviest crops on
rich and moist drained peat, arc rails
ed during seasons, when the crop is
sown early. On gravely soils, un-
less in very good tilth, oats suffer
most from drouth.
Cultiuation.-Thc best prcpara-
tion for luxuriant crops is freshly
broken up grass land. The only
objection is the smaller pccuniary re-
turn for so valuable preparation. In
the warmer parts of England fine
crops are obtained by state of filth
and early sowing these requisites
doubtless being still more important
in the warmer climates of the United
States. Drilling has proved quite
successful, in the few instances where
this mode of sowing has been adopt
ed, resulting in ten to twenty per
cent. saving in seed, and in addition
al product. Few crops derive more
advantage from rolling. Early sown
crops are invariably the best. If
sown late, the chances are ten to
one against a productive one, as
the young plants arc checked by
dry weather, from which they rare.
ly recover. The best timo for cut
ting, is when few Of the grains re-
tain the slightest possible trace of
green color On the chaff. Very early
oats may be cut somewhat greener,
as they will ripen afterwards in the
midst of hot weather--a reason why
they may be cut greencr in this coun-
try of hot sur, than in the cooler eli
mate of England. Oats are more
liable to heat in the stock than either
wheat or barley, on account of their
compact layers, and hence should be
eft.in the shock till well dried. In
dry soils and climates, autumn SOW
ing is recommended as decided
ly best.
The results Of many experiments
are given to show the comparative
value of different varieties, but that
are here omitted as being not gen
orally applicable to this country.
Effects Of Guano-A Yankee lad,
whose father was farmer, went into
q barn to play a short time ago, and
being detained prisoner by thunder
storm, he fell asleep on a bag of g.l-
ano. The gentleman, when the storm
was over, went into the farm yard to
look after his son, and met II giant
coming out Of the barn