Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-11-08
Culture OfOats.

Cor. Country Gentleman.
The first great point in Oat culture is
to get the crop soWed early in the Spring
This almost invariably secures a bright
healthy growth, and a plump berry. The
Oat in this respect, Is related to wheat
requiring cool, moist weather, rather than
hot and dry, standing well the early cold
and to some extent wet, weather Of early
Spring. To SOW late is to throw the crop
into the heat and drOuth Of Sumner
condition that is pretty sure to favor rust
of the straw and shrinkage of the berry,
sometimes to an extent that ruins the
crop. In such q diseased condition, 1t is
not fit for feed or bedding, but only to be
burned. In no case, therefore, should a
late crop be made of 1t. Give 1t all the
early GOODNESS. and moisture that the
season affords. If the ground is in good
condition, the grain will stand an excess
Of cold and wet. The ground, however,
does not generally receive the necessary
attention for this grain. Like buckwheat,
it has usually the poorest soil given it,
the crop too often hastily and carelessly
put in, and the result necessarily is a light
yield, sometimes more weeds and coarse
grasses growing than grain.
Oats require only a moderately rich
soil. If rich enough to grow a good crop
of wheat or of corn, tits too rich for oats,
as the crop in moist season is sure to
fall to the ground, and should it get
lodged before the berry is formed 1t viii
60 far to rum the crop. What is wanted
is to give thorough cultivatiOntO th6sOil,
which in connection with a moderate de-
gree of fertility will give the best results,
take one year with another. In dry
season when the grain keeps upright, a
higher degree of fertility would be- an adj
vantage. In this way some Of the heaVi-
acF IF tTrf
the dry seasons in which no rain storms
occur are exceptional and unforeseen.
have said that oats require Well-culti-
waited soil. The effect Is something
wonderful and highly gratifying. 1t not
only prepares the ground for a vigorous
growth, but the cultivation Is hard upon
the weeds. The grain pushes forward OC-
Cupying the ground, and keepingit Occu-
pied to the exclusion of weeds.
The best treatment Of the soil, where
clay prevails, is TO pillow late in the Fall,
setting the burrows up edgeWlse as much
as possible so as to have the soil exposed
to the elements. In the Spring as soon
as the ground is dry enough to work mel
low, apply a cultiVat0r and harrow, and
SOW at once, sowing about one bushel Of
sound seed per acre, to be covered with
a light harrow, passing 1t over only once.
The narrowing done to fine the soil should
be done before the grain Is sOWn. Where
the soil requires manure, find II best to
apply it after blowing in the Fall, If the
ground is dry enough, or duringthe Win
ter, always to be spread as applied, so as
to get the strength Of the manure equal
~ distributed as it is washed out. On
plOWed ground somewhat rough
there is little dangerOf any Of thestrength
being carried away.
I have said that q good crop Of oats
favors cleaning the land. 1t is known
thata heavy growth OF oats Is uniavoraole
to seeding to grass; at the best hgnJ
catch results. As weed determination
this crop may be ranked with buckwheat
and clover, or any other large-leafed
plant that makes q close growth. The
quality is, therefore, an additional induce
ment TO put the land into good order
and manure it If necessary to insure a
good growth.