Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-02-04
FARMS ANDFARMERS.
Short Talks With the Men Who Guide
the Plow.
of General Interest t0Farmcrs.
Sowing Oats.

sowing Outss
When should spring sowing of oats be-
gin2 Whenever weather and condition
of soil will permit, after the first of Jan
uary. Spring oats have to run the gaunt-
let of being killed by cold ON the one
hand, and of being cut off by drouth and
rust on the other. Those sown earliest
are most exposed to injury from cold, but
most apt to escape the effects of drouth;
the late sown run greatest risk from
drouth and least from cold. The wise
farmer, therefore, will take both risks
will not stake all his crop on either the
carly or the late sown. Some of the best
crops of oats we ever raised were sown in
January. They matured almost as carly
as fall-sown oats, making fine, heavy
heads. Then again, we have seen the
best crops produced by the latest sowings
in spring The best plan, therefore, is
to begin sowing early, and SOW at inter
walls till the first of March. If one SOW
ing does not strike favorable seasons, an
other may. Sometimes weeks differ
ence in the time of sowing makes won
derful difference in the yield of crops.
Again, from January to March the ground
is not always in condition to plow; it is
often too wet, and one who decides to
sow his whole crop at one particular
time, which he regards as best, is apt to
plow his land sometimes too wet, and to
rush things through in a rough, slovenly
manner. 1t is better to begin early;
strike the land whenever in good condi-
ton to plow, ard when good work can
be done. Suppose you lose yonr seed by
hard freezes, are you any worse off than
when you lose your crop by drouth2 You
are really better off in the first case, be-
cause you can resow or use the land for
some other crop; in the second case the
result is known too late to utilize the
land to as great advantage.
What kind of seed to sow. Home
grown, other things being equal, are best
and rust proof the most reliable. For
spring sowing preference should be Civ
en- to seed from spring sowing, and for
uplands, seed raised on uplands. In
some respects plants adapt themselves
quite readily and rapidly to their sur
roundings. Seed from the rich lands of
the west produce plants not at home on
our poorer soils. Western corn does not do
well in the cotton states why should oats
do any better. With our usual improvi-
dence we are getting into the habit of re-
lying largely on the west for our seed
oats. Is it good policy, either in the
light of sound economy Or in the matter
of getting the best seed? Very doubt
full, TO say the least. Our best corn, best
wheat, best oats are grown at home.
Every one knows and realizes the i'm
portance Of selecting seed corn. Why
should not the sane care be exercised in
improving oats. If one went through
his oat fields and selected the best stools
and sowed seed from these to themselves,
and did this year after year, does any one
doubt that an improved variety would
soon be established. In ordinary prac-
tice the poorest and best seed are indis-
criminately mixed by the threshing ma
ching, those from the feeblest, unheal-
thiest stalks with the strong and vigor
Gus. Under such circumstances what
chance is there for improvement. Some
improvement could be had by an old,
simple method within the reach of every
one. Lay aside some seed OATS in the
sheaf. In preparing seed select the heav-
lest and best bundles and strike them
lightly over a barrel so as to get the rip
est, heaviest seed only. Let the imper
feet seed remain on the straw and be fed
to stock. These barrel" oats will be
decidedly better than ordinary seed.
How should land for oats be prepared.
If in cotton or corn the previous year,
and has not been tramped by stock, there
is no necessity for breaking. 1t is well
to 90 over it with one of the deep run
ming harrows like the Disc, the Shares, or
the Acme Sow and cover seed with the
same. For the latter work the Shares
harrow is best. After covering the seed
roll the land. Oats can thus be put in at
greatly less cost than when plowed in
with scooter, and will do just as well.
If the land for oats is hard or rough, it
will have to be plowed as a matter of
course, but it is very desirable that some
cheaper and more expeditions method be
employed than breaking or blowing in
seed with scooters or twisters. This is
too slow and too costly. Whenever the
land is clean enough double footed plows
may be used to advantage-or wide cut
ting and rather shallow running turn
plows may be used to break the land,
and seed put in with Shares harrow. -
AtlantG Constitution.