The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-13
Spring Oats.


worth the paper they are printed upon.
Spring Oats.
Spring oats, when sown on poor land that
has been poorly prepared is certainly very
Door dependence. 1t is poor farmer that
will depend upon it, for the results must
necessarily be poor. The crop will hardly
pay back the amount expended upon it, tax
ing our seasons as they come. David re-
minds US that there is profit in all labor"
but it may not be clearly seen always wherein
it lies Men sometimes require little labor.
without regard to the money results, for
the sake Of the exercise that Is in 10. but a
farmer needs to take no extra labor for the
rake OF the exercise. He has more that he
can properly do, usually. without venturIng
upon undertakings that are very doubtful,
such as sowing spring oats upon poor land
poorly prepared and without manure.
Oats will not grow to advantage on poor
land any more than any other crop will, but
long observation has led us to believe
that it must be common impression among
farmers that the proper thing TO do is to de-
vote their poorest land to this crop. il they
are led into sowing it at ALL If this "poor-
est" land happened to be fertile enough to
grow crop of anything the result was a
very fair crop Of oats. If this poorest land
happened to be worn out soil, as it often
times proved to be, the result was failure
and disgust.
On good soil properly prepared and
manfred if possible, or necessary, spring
oats can be made very satisfactory crop to
the majority of farmers. But certain re-
quirements are to be met as with every
other crop. By spring oats we understand
such sowings as are made In our section
from Feb. l to March 15-in the lower parts
of the state oftentimes in January.
In Middle Georgia it is desirable TO make
the sowing as early as IL is safe to do SO. and
the soil is in condition to be plowed some
time in February. In March comes corn
planting; in April cotton. In order to sys-
tematize and expedite the general work of
the farm these three crops should be re-
gerded as belonging respectively to these
three months-tbe preliminary work for
all being done to the extent possible In De-
cember and January. A lack Of system on
the southern farm is great bar to the meth
odical esta plishment OF these crops in their
due order and without that rush and hurry
done. If our farmers would do the work In
November, December and january that
ought TO be done in that period they would
not be subjected go frequently to the rush
and worry that attends upon a wet January
and February il the rainfall happens to be
abnormslly heavY in either or both of these
months. Is this not trues
The land for spring oats should be plowed
the very first suitable weather In January,
or even little earlier. Tho land will then
be in readiness for sowing in February, only
needing the harrow and roller to do the
work properly and expeditiously. We
know very well there are thousands of
farmers ia the south who have neither
harrow nor a roller, WHOSE only reliance
for grain sowing is the scooter or turn
shovel. It is for these yet to learn wherein
the value of these implements lie Ia insur-
ing the success of various crops, especially
those broadcasted. There are those, how
ever, who have learned from experience
that these implements are almost indispen-
sable to the proper establishment OF nearly
oil crops in our variable climate; requiring,
as it constantly does, oil the provision posi-
bic against frequently recurring droughts
Of more or less duration.
We do not hesitate TO say that much Of
the failure to secure profitable results in
southern farming is the natural result of not
appreclating the true value of the harrow
and roller. Grain growing cannot be oar
ried on in our climate to the best advantage
without their use. The hasty way of SOW
ing this crop both In the fall and spring has
had much to do with the many failures that
has set so many farmers against the CROP. We
are not surprised at the poor results attained
by so many farmers after once seeing the
shiftless method practiced in seeding down
the Drop.
On very rich land oats can yield very
Tine crop with very rough treatment, but l
does not follow that they would not hav
done better with more careful prsparatio
OF soil and more pains taken with the seed
ing, which would involve narrowing and
rolling.
1t is useless to attempt spring oats on soil
that is not fairly fertile. 1t cannot be
made profitable crop on clay knobs or
sandy barrens. Il cannot be made TO pay
on such soil at first, even when fertility is
artificially applied, But spring oats can be
made satisfactory crop on soil that will
make half bale of cotton or fifteen
bushels Of corn per acre, if the sowing is
made at the proper time and in the proper
way.
Farmers should not begrudge some Of
their good land TO oats. The crop does not
Se4oHe inc lana out nalI Oe the year, al
lowing second crop of one kind or another
either to be taken off or given to the land
Tor its future benefit. In our last number
we summed up the several advantages of
tne oat crop. There Is no need to repeat 1t
here.
where good pasture or abundant hay Is
oeslred 1t is oommendable practice to sow
clover, either the sapling or common red,
WI WITH the oats sown in February or March.
me clover will take possession Of the land
aiter the oats are cut off.
Perhaps even better than the above
clovers would be the melilotus, which Is a
E.oyei plant for the purpose Of forage and
Improving the soil. Some day the praises
melilotus will be sung as loudly in
Georgia as 1t is now being sung in parts OF
saaoama, where 1t has been adopted by
farmers as forage plant.
This plan of sowing some variety of
clover with the spring grain has not met
WIN the adoption In the south that it should
nave done. 1t Is a valuable practice and