The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-26
OATS.
By G. NJ. McWilliams, Farm Adviser

Oats are crop that are grown over
wide range of territory. Generally
speaking, more northerly ATTITUDES are
the best oat producing sections. Oats
in Cape Girardeau County are not as
rule very profitable crop; because
of this they are not extensively
grown. In some seasons, however, oats
do well and make good crops, though
never what might be termed high
yields.
Varieties - For this section the
"Ninety-Day Oat," the "Black Dat"
and the 'Texas Red Rustproof" are
the best known and probably the most
successfully grown. The first men,
toned of these has a local history and
has very likely originated from the
'Texas Red Rustproof. They are
similar and both have boards or
spikes on the grain. The Ninety
Day Dat" has found much favor since
it's introduction. For sometime few
small crops of winter oats have been
grown in this county every yea.
Sometimes they do exceedingly well
and at other times are not so success
full; depending largely on the season.
Last year, however, H. B. Derr, Farm
Adviser of Scott County, introduced
winter oats in that locality with good
results. Thirty bushels per acre were
obtained; this year a considerable
acreage has been seeded. Several
other varieties are also sown.
Seeding-The amount of seed used
depends to some extent on the method
of seeding. Drilling requires less seed
than broadcasting. Eight pecks per
acre is the usual amount when drilled
and ten pecks when broadcasted.
There is some difference in varieties;
small grained varieties average about
100000 grains to the bushel as COM
pared to 100000 for the large grained
ones. One inch deep is the best depth
for drilling. This has been found to
be the most satisfactory from a num-
Der of trials. Drilled oats have yielded
3 to 5 bushels more per acre than
broadcasted and this method is pre-
ferable where clover or grass seed is
to be sown with oats. Oats should be
seeded as early as the fields may be
worked satisfactorily.
Preparation of Seed Bed-Disking
is practiced generally because it is
quicker and permits earlier seeding Of
the crop 1t requires considerable to
break land for oats and it is difficult
to get compact seed bed on freshly
plowed soil. 1t pays to disk land
twice-that is, to let the disk over
lap one-half. To harrow the field and
then drill is good practice. If much
trash is present shoe drill is not as
satisfactory as a disk drill.
Growth of Crop-Oats do best in
cool, moist climates and that is the
principal reason for getting them SOW
ed early. Oats as rule do not make
as. satisfactory a nurse crop as rye,
wheat or barley, because the oat plant
makes a dense shade and removes a
large amount of moisture from the
soil. The last objection may be over
come to some extent by seeding light
ly and moving the oats when in the
dough stage. They make good hay and
the clover or grass has a better chance
to withstand the sun.
Treating Seed for Smut-This is a
rather well-known and simple treat
ment. 1t is very effective. The seed
to be treated should be spread on
clean floor and sprinkled with a solu-
ton of one pound of formalin to 40
gallons Of water The seed should be
shcveled until all the grain is well
| r,oistened then covered with blanket
| and allowed to stand for several hours.
It should then be spread out to dry.
When dried it drills readily but the
amount per acre should be increased
to allow for swelling of the grains.
The cost of the treatment is small.
Forlnalin usually costs so cents per
pound and can be had at any drug
store.