Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-19


ance 10 the southern farmer because ii
protects his corn and cotton land during
the winter season when rains are the
hardest II provides an. abundance of
stray which may be utilize for feed and
win increase materially the amount Of
farmyard manure made available for next
years crop. II supplies a grain than
which there is nothing superior for horses
and young stock. and when grown by APP
proved modern methods a yield of 3 TO 81
bushels may be secured. which at pre-
vailing market prices makes it a profit
able crop to grow since il may be fol-
lowed the same year by cowpeas which
win build up the land. put il in excellent
condition for a succeeding crop and en-
able the farmer TO harvest from one and
a half 10 two and a half tons Of most
excellent hay per acre II hardly seems
possible that a practice similar to that
described is now being successfully fol-
lowed BY only limited number Of farm
ers in the south Why should thousands
OF farmers not engage in the cultivation
Of oats. There is no good reason ex-
cept that many have experienced failure.
and while a severe freeze may occasion
ally destroy this crop. il is the excep-
ton and not the rule when the land has
been properly prepared and fertilized and
The tine for seeuIng oats is at hand.
Seeding may be done any time during
lete September or october. ,.e would
prefer 20 have the seeding done in the
Piedmont section BY the It5h OF October;
in the coastal plain the season may be
extended TO the first OF November
How should land be prepared for this
important crop and what fertilizers should
be used2 These are questions of surpass-
ing importance at the present time. First
OF all fOrethought should be taken in
arranging for the oat crop AS II can
best come after corn. II viii be an adj
vantage 10 sow peas in the corn at the
last working and have as much litter as
possible to turn under. The land should
he ployed wIsas a disk or turning plow
to denth OF eight or more inches. the
latter b@ng wei covered Then harrow
Thoroughly and use a drag made OF 2x1s
planks 20 smooth down the ground Al
four-hoe drill which will sow the oats I'm
open burrows Is the best implement to
use for seeding. though some prefer the
disk drill and Il Will answer very we'll on
land such as described because Of the
large amount OF little which will be
brought 20 the surface by the harrow.
On the small farm. OF course, the one
horse grain drill and fertilizer distributor
answers very we'll With the large farm
er this method Of seeding is too expen-
sive- The preparation OF the soil and its
previous cropping have therefore much
20 do with successful Oat growing. The
farmer should not be discouraged II an
aftermath OF cOwpeas IS not available to
plow under, but should cultivate his land
that much more ---Sfoughly and fertilize
more heavily than would ordinarily be
necessary.
As 70 fertilizers for oats opinions will
vary. On land containing but little vege-
table matter a mixture containing z To
per cent OF nitrogen. S TO per cent OF
phosphorus acid and to 8 per cent OF
potash should be used. For clay soils the
smaller amount OF potash will probably
answer; for sandy soils. the larger amount
should be used since this crop draws
heavily on this element OF fertility. a
yield OF 50 bushels with the straw re-
moving s. pounds Of potash per acre. and
since probably not over IS per cent OF
the plant food applied is made available
10 the crop then growing on the land. the
necessity OF liberal fertilization and the
tree use OF potash becomes apparent
A very good mixture to use under oats
may be prepared as follows: Mix togeth-
er il5o hounds Of high grade acid phos-
phate, $50 pounds OF dried blood contain
ing IS per cent Of available nitrogen. and
80 pounds OF muriate Of potash contain
ing % per cent OF available potash. This
mixture viii contain about 80 per cent
OF nitrogen, go per cent Of DhOsphori,
ecid and SIS per cent OF potash. and
when used at the rate Of 80 to 800 pounds
per acre will supply the needs Of the crop
very wen on land well supplied with veg
efable matter
Where the croo follows after cowpeas
: very good fertilizer may be prepared as