Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-22
Talks LUith Farmers
Conducted BY c. II. Jordan

I'm meeting successfully such emergencies
as confront us at this time. 1t is therefore
not only the part Of wisdom, but the ne
cessity of the situation demands that
every farmer, who has not a fun corn
crib this fall begin at once TO fertihze
small area Of ground. prepare II nicely
by good. deep blowing and sow II down
IN either rye, barley or wheat for Janu-
airy and February feeding. Such patches
should be highly MANFRED and the ground
rendered as fertile as possible.
Sowing Oats.
Our last seasons experience with the
fall planting Of the oat crop was anything
but satisfactory. The crop was almost 9
failure over large areas Of territory anu
the expense of preparation ana SOWING
was a heavy loss in addition to the antic-
ipated yield of the crop which failed 70
materialize. But II we lost last season
we may succeed beyond our expectations
this season. At all events IL is worth the
venture Like a great many other crops
the proper treatment Of the soil may De
considered half the battle. IL the land is
properly prepared well fertilized and the
seed drilled in with first class implement
the damage TO the young plants by heavy
freezes Is reduced TO its minimum. Too
many farmers roughly lay on the lands
in unbroken fields, broadcast the grain,
scratch IL in and expect for nature 10 40
the balance and to furnish good results
in the end. This method Of no preparation
and careless sowing may have succeeued
when our lands were Ia virgin fertility,
but IL Is different now. Profitable crops
can only be secured by the most painstak-
ing care and knowledge at how to prop
erly have the work done.
AS a rule, early and deep plowing Will
give the best results. and fall oats should
be sown either in September or early Oc-
MA fhau 81 would he
best 10 wait until the middle Of February
for a spring crop. II the fall crop is prop
erly put in and seasons are favorable the
Weld Is likely to be from third to twice
the yield per acre from spring sowing.
The longer period OF time In which fall
sowings have to sevelop ana mature gives
a decided advantage over spring oats.
FAN oats are heavy. spring oats are
light.
Preparation and Fertilization.
AS stated above. II is an undesirable
fact, that I'm thorough preparation Of the
soil before planting half the battle Is
won in making a heavy yield Of any crop.
Prepare well the land TO be planted in
oats by deep blowing and afterwards har-
row the soil down to a good fine filth.
The finer the soil is cut up. the more
readily It yields up it's natural stores Of
plant food. A plant can get nothing from
clods and brickbats. If compost is used
as a fertilizer IL may be broadcasted over
the land after the regular blowing and
narrowed in before the seed are drilled.
With commercial fertilizers the work Of
fertilizing and drilling may be done at the
same time. II the seed cannot be put IN
with a drill the next best thing to do Is
10 lay of small burrows u o Is inches
apart, sow in the seed by hand or dis
tributors and cover lightly with a board
made long enough to strike or rows at
a time, boiling on the board to the foot
Of the pillow. oats are dear feeders and
must be highly MANFRED with heterogeneous
fertilizers TO develop good crops and save
the soil from a too heavy raid upon its
natural supplies of plant food.
A compost of stable manure and cotton
seed will furnish the best balanced fertil-
izer for oats and materially guard against
the destructive effect of freezes in Janu-
airy and early February A commercial
fertilizer made up Of 900 pounds Of cot
ton seed meal. 200 pounds phosphoric acid
and 400 pounds KANT broadcasting or
drilling in 400 to 500 pounds per acre should
also give good results. The crop Of cot
ton is short and will be gathered early,
this will give the farmers ample oppor-
turnity to put in their grain crops, and 1t
is to be hoped that they VIII promptly
take advantage Of the situation and plant
largely of small grain crops his season.
HARVIE JORDAN.