The log cabin Democrat., 1917-02-27
OATS |S
 ALWAYS SAFE CROP
It is Easy to Get Started and Ma. tvres at Convenient Time
 Of the Year.
By L. W. Osborn, Experiment Station UnlvsrsIty oR
 Arkaneas.

Oats seeded in the spring or 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 to 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 oth- CT summer growing crops, the value is high enough to make the oat crop profitable.
 Spring seeded oats, compared with winter oats, do not, as 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 a field where winter oats are likely to suffer. On poorly drained soils and on fields subject to overflow, spring oats should therefore be given prefer ence.
 Preparation of Land.
 Though the oat 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 cared-f for cultivated crop the year before, thorough dou- ble disking, followed by a 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 flat 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 1 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 frent 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 fs 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 6 section harrow. B. tween two and two and one-half bush- els of seed are necessary with q grain drill and three bushels or more when seeding broadcast. The rate of seed ing depends. to great extent. on the variety, since some varieties have much larger grains than others.
 Varieties.
 Varfetal 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 we'll 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 ono of the earliest of the Red oats. Gull person 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.
 If the crop is cut just 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 uual- ity of feed.
 Louis Sawyer has recently been ap-