The Newark journal., 1917-08-02
SPRING OATS IS
ALWAYS SAFE CROP
II 10 Easy to Get Started and Ma
lures at a Convenient Time
Of the Year.
BY L. w. Osborn,
Experiment Station University OF
Arkansas.

Oats seeded in the spring OF late
winter have always been popular with
farmers In oat growing sections of the
State. This crop natures at a very
convenient time when the supply of
feed from the preceding year is get
ting low. The crop always can be de-
pended upon to yield at least fair re-
turns at an opportune time. Further
more, the crop is comparatively easy
10 get started, and the work can be
done at time of year when nothing
else is pressing.
The value returned per acre is not
as high in case OF oats as with some
other crops Still when the low cost
OF production Is considered, as we'll as
the fact that the crop Is removed from
the land in plenty of time for crop
OF cowpeas. soybeans, peanuts, or 9th
er summer growing crops, the value
is high enough to make the oat crop
profitable.
Spring seeded oats, compared with
winter oats, do not, as a rule, yield
as much grain nor as good quality OF
grain, and usually the growth Of straw
Is less On the other hand, oats seed
ed In the spring or late winter are not
damaged by winter killing and are
more certain to give a return on
field where winter oats are likely to
suffer. On poorly drained soils and
al dc ct4h RI
oats should therefore be given prefer
ence.
prepzrasion OF Land,
Though the cat crop In general will
stand considerable rough treatment,
there Is no question but that the
crop will respond to good cultural
methods and return profit according
ly. A fairly deep and compact seed
bed should be prepared before seed
Ing Frequently, on good land which
has had well-eared-fer cultivated
crop the year before, a thorough dou-
BILE disking, followed by section har-
row is all that is necessary. On land
which is of a close nature and lack
ing in organic matter it Is better
practice to fiat break during the win
ter and disc or harrow before seeding
until the land Is in good shape.
Time of Seeding.
The oat crop in general does best
when the weather is comparatively
cool and moisture plentiful. For that
reason, the sooner after the cold win
ter weather breaks up that the oat
crop can be seeded, the better are the
possibilities for securing a good crop.
The time of seeding will vary in diff
ferent sections of the State from early
February in south Arkansas, to early
March in north Arkansas. Time of
seeding is very important in the case
of oats seeded at this time OF year
When seeding is delayed in the spring
there is great danger that hot sum-
mer weather will not permit the grain
TO fill out normally. An early seeded
crop allows more time for the plants
to grow and get ready for such
weather
Seed is best sown with a grain drill
In order to save seed and secure a
uniform stand. If drill is not avail
able, good results can generally be
obtained by seeding broadcast and
covering with section harrow. Be-
tween two and two and one-half bush
els of seed are necessary with grain
drill and three bushels or more when
seeding broadcast The rate OF seed
ing depends, to a great extent, on the
variety. since some varieties have
much larger grains than others.
Varieties.
Varietal tests of spring oats show
that early maturing types give best
results. Burt has always been a very
dependable variety and seed can
usually be secured at most seed
houses. The various Red Rust Proof
varieties which are commonly seeded
in the fall, do very well when seeded
In the late winter or early spring. A Red
Rust Proof selection, known as Full
ghum, which was tested for the first
time as spring oat this past season
did exceptionally well. This oat is one
of the earliest of the Red oats. Cul
berson and Winter Turf varieties
should not be used for spring seeding
because of their later maturity.
harvesting.
The greatest value per acre can
usually be obtained when the crop is
cut and used for hay.
II the crop is cut rust as the heads
begin to turn, the greatest value will
be realized, since the straw Is green
At that time and the whole plant Is
very palatable and makes a high quail
ity Of feed