Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-20
CONDITION OF SMALL GRAIN.

The present outlook for promising cat
crop. maturing from fall sOwings Is
gloomy enough. Inquiries in nearly all
sections develop the fact that the late
December freeze destroyed from 50 TO 20
Per cent OF the early sown oats In nearly
every field. This unfortunate condition
OF affairs Is not only discOuraging TO those
farmers who went ahead actively to pro-
tect themselves against high priced corn.
but Il has insured a heavy loss on each
individual who had planted. Unusually
high prices were paid FOR fan cats and IN
many Instances extra expense was made
IN the earnest endeavor TO more thor
oughly prepare and fertilize the land
While fail oats I'm many instances have
been sovn quite extensively. Il Is 20 be re-
GREETED that the wheat acreage in many
sections has not been increased or even
50 large as the area planted year ago.
The long dry spell in the fan caused the
red lands to harden and many farmers
claimed that they could not plant their
wheat crop owing 10 inability TO break
? the soil. Others. and quite the most nu-
merous. claiming that they were too busy
gathering their cotton crop 10 stop Tor
anything else. That intense fascination
for the cotton Patch has ruined and will
continue TO ruin untold numbers OF farm
ers who stick 10 the all cotton system
Planting Spring Oats.
While not so sure a crop as fan sown
oats spring planting often furnish good
results. The fall sOwings having several
months longer than the spring paintings
IN which 10 grow and develop. OF course
possess a decided advantage / have for
many years. however. raised good crop
OF spring sOwn oats. Ny plan has always
been 10 select a piece Of rich land 20 SOW
on. and then prepare the soil as thorough
IL as possible leaving the ground in good
a decided success. although planted as
late as the second week in March. ] cut
them in the heavy dough. curing them
nicely and am now feeding them TO my
stock.
oats cut in the advanced dough stage
or about three-fourths ripe and cured
without the detrimental effects Of rain.
make one Of the cleanest and most desir-
able feeds 70 handle that is known. I
have never heard OF an animal made sick
from eating oats cured in that way. nor
have / ever seen poor horses or mules
around barns that were well filled with
oats. II Is a crop easily and quickly
raised. Oats planted the middle OF Feb
ruary or early in March on good land,
VIII be ready for the reaper in 80 days,
and no other crop so valuable can be
planted and harvested in the same length
OF time at that period OF the year.
Preparation Of Land.
Spring oats cannot be sown as careless
Is as fan sOwn oats, IL good results are
expected. The time for small grain 10
grow and develop in is running short II
is highly advisable for each and every
man whose corn crib Is getting light OF its
contents 10 plant at least a few acres
in spring oats and take the chances Eth
er the middle OF February or first Of
March IS the safest and most desirable
period in which 20 plant spring oats. The
terribly severe freezes which occur the
second week in February. and which are
becoming an almost certainty each year,
would be more than apt TO kill out young
oats coming up the latter part OF the
present month We must meet conditions
as they present themselves, notwithstand-
ing that our fathers in years gone by an
nua1ly planted their spring oats the first
week IN January
Some farmers still adhere to that old
plan Of planting the first week in .Jsnua-
~. but IL has proven disastrous nearly
every time during the past few years in
ATTITUDES as FAR north as middle Georgia
The proper thing TO do is 10 take no
chances. Just 90 ahead at this time and
break the land deep and harrow IL down
10 a fine even tilth- Plant only on rich
uplands or good strong bottoms unless
there is an abundance Of fertilizer at hand
10 broadcast on the land. Two 20 two and
a half bushels o. a good variety OF rapid
growing oats should be planted per acre,
either broadcast or drilled A farmer
should not hesitate to pay ST per bushel
for seed oats TO plant at this time II he is
short OF -orn. because corn will doubtless
sell fOr N-z5 per bushel before the spring
Is over.
Oats cut in thc dough stage and nicely
cured are equivalent 10 both corn and fOd-
der for work stock. II the cat crop Is
followed up with sorghum TO be planted
so soon as danger Of frost is over. the
coming crop Of cotton can be made much
cheaper than II the merchants store alone
is depended upon Where there is a viii
there Is a way. and southern farmers have
pulled safely through much more trying
periods than thoss which now confront
us. At this time prepare first 10 plant
spring oats. whether they be high in
price or not HARVIE JORDAN.