The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-09-14

etTonS ana 1ully eStabllShed. Pastures are
very frequently ruined by the desire to rea.
lize from them too soon.-ED. So. CULTI-
vATOR
OATS.
EDITOR SOUTHERN CULTIvAToR.-As
science requires "tables," 1 was in hopes to
- psasentaa. soma. setting forth the re.
mo 6xpefiments with oats made
the past season, but destructive drought
Of nearly 60 days, commencing April 18th,
rendered most of them uninstructiye, espe.
cially 80 in those instances where hoped
to demonstrate (partially) tho comparative
value of certain salts, applied as top dress
inS in March-only only one rain, and
that slight one, falling after the applica-
ton. In these cases, there was no discer-
nible difference between natural soil, Nj
trate Soda, Phosphate Lime, Chloride So
dium, and Sulphate Lime. These salts
were applied separately and also in combi-
nation. 1t was plain that the capacity of
the natural soil only was exhibited. The
variety sown was the rust proof oat shall
repeat this experiment the coming season,
making the application much earlier (De.
cember or January,) and hope to be more
successful.
As stables" are not essential to tho prac.
tical farmer, however, I shall proceed to
tell what my experiments in another direc.
tion have taught me, and am almost dog
uatic enough to defy any one to disprove
my conclusions in reference to oat culture
by actual test. 1t is not wise, however, to
be dogmatic in reference to agricultural
matters, for, as a rule, almost, it seems that
the experience OF one Is disproved by that
of another.
l have been a close observer and student
of oat culture for several years, and tho re-
suit of my observation and experience is
this: That the time to SOW is from September
15thto November 10th, the earlier on poorer
soils-the happy medium is October 10th
10th. On rich and very rich soils, from
October 18th to November 10th. That
is the best soil for oats, but that they can
be profitaDly grown on any soil, if judicious.
ly manured. That the phosphate lime is
tho special manure for oats, where they fol-
low cotton or peas, and especially so on clay
soils. That the manure should be drilled
in with the seed. That the seed should be
put uniformly 81 to S inches deep that on
all but very rich friable soils drilling at 18
inches aud cultivation increases the Weld
under like circumstances Of manuring, SO to
rs per cent.
These, Mr.. Editor, are the maxims hold
IN reference to oat culture, and can conf.
IDENTIFY recommend them. Many are agreed
as 70 the proper time for sowing, but very
large number of farmers still hold to the
opinion that February is the time to SOW
oats, and yet they admit that they rarelI
mako really prontaple crops. Let them
once understand that October scwn oats, put
uniformly 4 inches deep. and that have
good hold on the soil by the 18th Nov. are
not endangered in the least once in 10 years,
yea 20, in this climate, and they will see
their way clear to profitable oat growing
Notwithstanding the unpropitious season
| made fine crop this year, as my neigh
bors, who came frequently to examine and
admire, can testify. At the lowest calcula.
ton, made 40 bushels on rather poor sandy
land, and but for the drought would GER
tainly have made 60. The oats we're sown
in cotton in October, siding the cotton with
shovel and sowing seed in furrow Gov
cred by breaking out the middle with q
scooter. Tue cotton had been picked over
twice. In January the stalks were beaten
down, and the oats cultivated 3 times after
swards-.. The. cotton rows were 3 feet apart,
and the cotton was 10 sided as to make oat
rows 18 inches apart. Made no special ap-
plication of manure to the oats, but tho
cotton had been manured. This is q good
way to work oats, for it is economical. On
our old cotton lands, the acid phosphate OF
lime is the only fertilizer needed to mako
magnificent crops. It should be applied
in the furrow with the seed, from 2 to 4
hundred pounds per acre. 1t is with oats
as With cotton, too much nitrogen to be
guarded against. Twenty to forty bushels
cotton seed, however, may be applied with
profit, In addition to phosphate, but, as l
remarked before, such application is not
necessary after cotton or peas.
As drilling and oultivating oats is not my