Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-13

we can very materially increase the
weld of our oats by eliminating the
light chaffy oats, the small oats, and
as many of the medium sized ones %
possible: keep nothing but the large
heavy oats for seed purposes. As
far as the feeding is concerned, the
small oats is Just as good but When
the larger oats are better Tor seed
ing purposes 1t is indeed matter or
economy to take the time to eliminate
as far as possible all but the large
plump grains, which should be kept
for seed.
Treatment for smut. Little do we
realize how much damage is done by
smut unless we have taken pains 10 go
out into the oats field and make per
sonal examination. Not infrequently
fields are found to be from ten and M
teen to twenty per cent smut Smu.
: con be so easily prevented that there
it in his field The expense and LABOR
is indeed very light. One pound o ,
formaldehyde Gao per cent? mixed
with forty gallons of water will treat
forty bushels of oats. The oats may
be treated one day and sown the next.
The little smut pore is concealed un-
derneath the hull. 1t is necessary
that something come in contact win
this pore and kill 1t or it will grow
when the oat begins to sprout. The
oats may be spread out on granary
floor and the above solution spr1nkled
over 1t at the rate of one gallon to the
bushel, as above stated. 1t may then
be collected in a heap and covered
with gunny sacks or blankets to keep
the gas which will otherwise escape
These can be left over night and taken
off tn ha nc ~ tho oats GnreAQ
out again and worke dover occasion,
ally so that they will dry out. 1t will
be found that they will dry out very
rapidly Should there be more oats
treated than is needed for seeding
purposes, after 4S hours time 1t will
be perfectly safe to- feed them to stock,
as the formaldehvde will evaporate.
When oats are treated one day and
sown the next it will be found that
they will be a little bulky and where
one expected to put In II bushels to
the acre he will have to set the seeder
for bushels.
This brings US to the fourth point:
The preparation of the seed bed
We find that a very large amount OF
oats In this state are put in with an
end-gate seeder, while the stalks are
still standing in the field, after which
they are disced couple of times,
sometimes narrowed ana Clen 1911. III
fact thorough canvass of the method
of putting in oats has been undertaken
and we find that about rs per cent OF
the oats are put in in this way. This
method of putting in oats does not
bring the best results. The seed bed
should first be prepared. The ground
should be thoroughly disced until the
seed is in good condition. 1t always
pays to have a good seed bed. Some
times it will be necessary to disc the
ground as much as three and -four
times over. If the ground needs it, II
is all the more necessary that it should
be done and you will be well paid TO,
| your trouble. After the seed bed Is
put in proper condition the oats may
| be put in and while there Is less diff
ference in the yielding of oats thar
of wheat, whether or not they are
! drilled or broad-casted. yet there is {
difference in favor Of the drill. So the
best results may be expected by the
use of the drill and especially wher
| grass seed is to be put in.
The four steps above mentioned, Il
followed out would mean great dea
towards the substantial increase II
the yield Of oats produced Throughout
the state of Iowa.