The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-11-23
OATS By IRRIaATI0S
No Element Of Risk When Rudi-
ments Of Science Applied.
Only Possible Where Sunshine Is Per
petuaI and Supply Of Moisture
Under Absolute Control Of
Scientific Farmer.


There seems TO be general interest
in the subject Of the irrigation OF oats
This is perhaps the simplest Of all
crops TO grow 10 high degree Of per
lection by the use OF artificial water
In the arid belt the conditions d soil
preparation. sowing and the first
stages OF growth are identical yeaf
after year There seems 70 be re-
element ol risk in the oats crop y
irrigation. when the rudiments OF SCI
ence are applied.
Scientific farming Is the grandesi
study Of tie age. Scientific farming
eliminates every element Of risk IN
the production of maximum yields
There is no Justification for the pro
duction OF less than 100 bushels Of
oats to the acre by scientific methods
The only climate which never varies
+ IS the practically perpetual ssnshine q
the arid regions, writes Newton Ilibbs
IN the irrigation Age. Scientific farm
ing is possible only where the sun
shine is perpetual and the supply o.
moisture is under the absolute control
of the scientific farmer
To produce a perfect crop the seed
must be properly planted in the cor.
rect degree Of moisture ia the right
season. The question of fertility y
determined with certainty only when
the degree Of moisture is regulated Il
is not necessary to try to illustrate
the degree of moisture required for
the seed bed to the practical farmer
The degree of moisture necessary to
promote the rankest possible growth
of straw is readily determined by the
experienced farmer either in the hu.
mid or the arid regions # there Is
not an excess Of fertility in the soil
farming by irrigation is d simple
process. The application of water in
response to the demands as indicated
by the changing color of the plants Is
very simple matter. The impossi
bility Of definite determination OF the
correct degree and quality Of fertility
complexities the principle of irrigation
Of the oats crop, The moisture regu
lates the feeding Of the fertility Of the
soil to the plant even when there is
an excess in the soil. therefore, the
scientific irrigator can regulate the
growth OF straw by limiting the mois,
ture, and be sure of the height that
will not lodge and at the same time
support the very largest heads. Witt
the moisture under control 1t is jist
as much faulty farming to have lodged
straw as to have poor yield.
The trench system Of water aDph
cations is. the best for oats crop. The
trenches are generally made by a
marker which win make two trenches
about twenty inches apart, two inches
/ deep and three inches wide This
work is generally done after seeding
and before the grain comes up. Il
! greatly simplifes the irrigation by BE-
ing certain OF the correct degree OIL
moisture in the soil before the seed
\ IS sown. This moisture will make a
growth Of about four inches and cover
i the surface with a dense green mass
4 The greer oats will shade the surface
so that the wet ground will not bake
4 Successive applications of irrigatine
water will be called for by the unmfs-
taxable changes Of color Of the grow
! ing crop A growth too rank may be
readily checked and a retarded growth
may be stimulated by frequency and
extent o: the applications of irrigation
water.