The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-08-25
Correspondent.
OATS.
FAYETTEVILLE, n. Z.
Aug. II, 8 8

EIIENlLLE, ~. W,
Aug. II, 1886.
EDITOR PROGRESSIVE FARMER
The enclosed article regarding the
oat crop was published about three
years ago and [ think it will now
bear publishing again, as it is time
to prepare for sowing. The severe
freezes last winter did much damage
to the small grain crops. L would
like for the farmers who sOwed small
grains last fall to answer this ques-
ton: Did you SOY any grain in the
month Of September, if SO, was it
killed to any extent by the severe
freezes of last winter? }. Pm.
Judging from accounts given in
the newspapers, crops generally Will
be cut short this year by drouth and
other causes. The probability is
that corr will be scarce and high
next year. If this should prove to
be the case, as it likely will, then it
behooves every farmer as far as
practicable to prepare for it by rails
ing such crops as may be substituted
for the corn crop. For feeding stock
oats perhaps make the best substi-
tute for corn, and when sowed in
time they are easily raised. | find
the best time to SOW them is in Sep
TENDER or as early in October as
possible. When sown early in the
fall they are not likely to be killed
by the freezes OF the winter, they
grow taller and come Off earlier in
the spring. February is the month
to SOW spring oats, but when sown
at this time from bad seasons and
other causes they often fail to make
a good crop. | consider the yellow
rust proof oats the best to SOW, it's
grains are larger and heavier than
either the black or the white kind
and they ripen earlier in the spring.
The quality of the land should gov
ern the quantity to be sown to the
acre-on poor land about one bushel
to the acre, on rich land about two
bushels to the acre. Oats like III
is a gross feeder and requires Il fer
tilizer containing a large amount Of
ammonia. The fertilizers car be
spread and ploughed in with the
oats, but the best time to apply fer
t~ilizers on oats or any other small
grain is just before they take a start
to grow in tho spring. Spread the
fertilizer broadcast over the growing
grain and harrow it in. This process
looks like running the crop, but it
does not injure ton the contrary
it is a benefit in two ways: it covers
the fertilizers and at the same time
cultivates the growing crop. Sow in
lands about fifteen feet wide and
plough in about four or five inches
deep-the ploughing should be thor
oughly done, that is, if possible every
square inch Of the soil should be
we'll broken and pulverized to a uni
form depth of about five inches. If
the is not narrowed in the spring
as already stated above, the harrow
ing should then be done Immediately
after the grain is sowed and plowed
in. This levels the land and enables
the reaper, when his time comes to
do better work-he then cuts
smoother and cleaner. Oats for
feed should be cut when they are
ripe or nearly ripe; it is not best to
cut them green as some do. When
cut they should be put up in twelve
bundle shocks and remain so until
they are welldried before stacking or
hauling into the barn. If these
shocks are we'll made they can re-
main for several weeks; the weather
will not hurt them. For oats or
other small grain, if possible select a
large field with a fence enclosing
the head of branch or pond that
does not dry up in the summer
SOW the whole of it, poor spots and
all. In saving grain in such a field
reap only the best spots or such
only as it will pay to reap, and
when the crop is saved turn every
hog on the premises into the field.
They will improve On such a pasture
and for a few weeks will not require
any other feed. NJ.
r0NDHNJcDD nn~~yy~-