The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-08-25
PLANT OATS.

Plant oats? BY all meansI No one
can farm without oats, but grow them,
don't buy. There is no crop that can
be grown with so little attention and
cost as oats. Planted in the fall (OCtO.
Der is the best time) on land from
which some other crop has been taken,
made by the winter rains, the earliest
and SureSt Of winter grazing crops and
extending into the Spring When other
native grasses come on for pasture,
easily harvested, good to feed in the
sheaf or threShed and almost Weevil
proof: it is good to 90 out and see fine
field of oats in May ready to be harvest
ei,With enough feed to last through
the hard working season, and just the
food for hot weather work, without
any collie attachment too.
Louisiana is growing almost three
times as many oats as she did two
years ago; there were many failures at
first due to poor drainage, poor prepar
alton Of the soil i poor seed but
farmers have beguu TO know the inn
portance of good sol. preparation and
good seed. With Sur heavy rainfall
and damp climate all GOATS have a tend
ency to rust which Il eans crop failure
but afew careful grdRvers in the state
have, by scrupulous selection OF rust
resistant plants, been able to produce a
a rust proof oat, There were enough
of these oats grown in the state this
year to supply the demand in Louisiana
1t is worse than useless to plant the
so.calied Texas rust proof oats or any
of the Eastern and Northern grown
seed; even with a favorable year full
crop cannot be produced. Better pay a
few cents more and get the genuine
Louisiana grown rust proof seed and in
sure a good crop.
A few acres planted to oats this Fall
viii afford good Winter pasture for
stock; nothing is better for Young colts
calves and pigs; grazing up TO the time
they begin to stool will not injure them
which will pay all costs OF the crop,
taus leaving the harvested grain as a
clear profit.
One and a half to two bushels OF
Laspedeza seed soWn into the oats IN
February will give either good Summer
pasture or a cutting or two OF a fine
quality of hay that analyses right uE
to alfalfa. Hairy (Winterl Vetch OF
| Red Clover soWn broadcast immediate
" after oats and narrowed IN lightly
will also add excellent grazing to the
oat crop. Another profitable use Of
these crops is to Craze through the
Winter and then turn under as green
manuring in Spring which will ado
greatly to the fertility and mechanical
tcondition of the soil. A field that pro
duced rs bu. of corn this year, treated
as above this Winter will insure yield
of 30 Blu. for 1915. The only way to bulld
I'D the lands of this country is to plant
crops that will return fertility to the
soil instead of taking it away This
| can be done by growing leguminouS
plants like the cloVerS, Vetches, peas
velvet and soy beans and leSpedeza
! which, when turned under vine and al
will not only add nitrogen Jour highes1
priced fertilizerT to the soil but Will
render it friable and mellow, helping il
| to hold moisture during dry spells ant
absorbing the excessive rainfall in we
weather. Such a policy will lead II
successful farming and until such
method is adopted we will never ge
from our soils the half of which the!
are capable of producing. Any on'
wishing to plant any of the above.le
gumes may obtain the bacteria for in
oculating same free from the govern
ment by sending me name and address
stating the kind and quantity OF Seet
to be sown. Also give as near as posi-
BILE the date Of planting as the bacteria
will not keep any length of time.
shall be glad to furnish blank applica
lions for bacteria to any one sending il
name, address, etc.
He. FONDREN, Special Agent,
Parish Demonstration Work.
Jennings, La; August q.