Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-04-02
farm Copies.
OATS ON WlNTER-klLLED WHEAT

that scarcely Il spear of it could he seen
when the ground began to thaw out.
Not wishing to lose the use of this
ground, and in order to save work, as
Soonas a man could walk over the land
without miring, or going over his boots
in the soft places. oats were SoWn Droad-
cast. about one buShel to an acre. They
sank into the mud, and after freezing
and thawing several times, the ground ut
last settled, and the weather becoming
warm enough. the oats sent out root
down into the ground and a shoot up
ward-thosc on top of the ground doing
lust as well as the grains which had be-
come covered up. These oats were up
and green all over the land almost
month before the land would have been
fit for working to put them in.
am satisfied that this is the best way
to put in all wet ground when crop of
oats is desired. The land should be fitted
the fall before. just the same as if sown,
aud in the spring the seed should be
sovn as soon as IA man can walk over it
WIFI dIlN CbHllOll. Ilbl lON lllS - ii'' ~
all necessary if the seed is put in early,
so as to have the advantages of the early
rains. If the grain can be kept swollen,
| so as to send out roots, it is safe. 1t Will
always be kept moist enough, so long as
the earth is wet. without rain, as the
I grain will absorb moisture from the
ground. There is no trouble about this
part of the plan. | have been driven
. from field by "A rain storm before the
grain was narrowed in, and the crop did
well.
The point is. moisture Is more impor-
tant than covering. Sowing early Sc
cures enough moisture even though the
season at seed time may be dry. Sowing
the seed when the frost is coming out
makes the securing of moisture GER
taintv. have no doubt that better crops
of spring wheat could be had by fitting
the land in autumn and sowing the seed
when the frost was coming out, and the
surface of the ground was very wet, as
in this way the best part of the season
for growth would be taken advantage of.
This spring there will be thousands of
acres (more likely milions) where the
winter wheat will be killed. or if not all
killed. it will be weakened and Trimmed
by the severe exposure it has had. and Is
now undergoing. in many sections of the
country. My plan would be to sow
spring wheat on the top of the ground on
all fields and spots where the winter
wheat is unpromsing. and leave it to take
care of itself. 1t will come ON and can
be harvested with the winter wheat. BY
so doing good crop on good land can be
secured. and no additional labor. When
spring wheat cannot be secured. and the
supply is of course limited in the Older
States, should SOW oats and harvest
them with the crop. They will do well
if the land has been well prepared for the
wheat. and it is far better to get Il good
crop of oats. with the wheat which may
grow. than Il crop of chess. which Is sure
to come in on all the bare spots. and all
sorts of weeds. | never harvested Il
greater crop of oats on the same amount
of land than grew ON the wheat ground |
have described.
If it j. more important to have good
seeding than to grow full crop on the
land. then it would be well not to SOW
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will probably choke out the grass seed
somewhat. The grass seed will 90 Il
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AUST oats Nc"'''rcu On 'ilc SIo"ilu III 'ho