Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-19

Now is the time to sow your oats;
not wild oats" but tame oats. This
is a problem of some Importance to
the people OF the southeastern states,
for in Georgia alone the freeze was so
destructive last year that 1t cut ABOUT
$4,000. 900 bushels off the expected
WELD. and hence seed are scarce and
costly as we'll This factor is tending
TO discourage many farmers from
planting oats this fall. Also, there is
somehow a feeling that as cotton Is
bringing such a high price. it does not
make much difference about planting
cereals Farmers who take this view
of the situation are losing sight OF the
fact that feed for work stock next
spring will not only be scarce, but VIII
cause them to send a considerable part
of the earnings through the cotton
crop to other sections of the country
for what should be produced at home.
There is an impression. for instance,
that we have a superabundant crop
Of corn and oats in the United States.
This conclusion is correct, but We must
not lose sight of the fact that II viii
take between 100000 and 100000
bushels of our corn and oats to supply
the necessary fodder grain required by
our European allies alone. IL they DO
not obtain these grains they Will not
be able to feed and maintain their live
stock satisfactorily, and the pangs OF
hunger will then pinch much harder
than they have hitherto, and the prob
lem of the United States in bringing
the war to a satisfactory conclusion
become much more difficult than IL
should be II the necessary supplies or
fodder grains can be sent abroad.
To have an abundance of these fod-
der grains, we must therefore under
take 10 conserve our supply even in
view OF the phenomenal crops raised,
and so il becomes the duty as well as
the privilege of every farmer in the
southeastern states to grow an In
creased area OF oats this fall. 1t will
not be difficult to do this. because the
preparation of the land is not COSTLY
nor does IL require a great deal OF
time In spite of the scarcity OF seed,
there will probably be found to be
more available, If an effort is made to
obtain IL, than seems possible from
surface indications. This nearly always
proves to be the case at least, and
there is reason to think that more
seed oats can be secured than many
farmers seem to believe they can OBJ
tain 1t Is true the losses suffered
last year by farmers were very great,
IL
freezes occurring were very unusual
and are not likely to occur again for
several years. Nature always compen-
safes for her errors of omission and
commission. In other words. the crops
that are short one year are generally
abundant the next year. We have faith
to feel, I..erefore, that II the farmers
plant an adequate acreage of oats this
year to meet the requirements OF the
south and leave some surplus to be
used I'm the form of oatmeal for human
food. their effort will be rewarded by a
good crop and good prices as we'll.
Although the corn crop In Georgia
was increased this year over any pre-
vious record the state has ever made,
il would seem that we would still re-
duire eight or ten million bushels OF
corn to feed our people and our stock
satisfactorily until another crop comes
in More or less the same condition
prevails in all the other southeastern
states If we can grow an abundant
oat crop. therefore. we will have sat
isfactory substitute for our shortage in
corn to use next spring and summer
The oat crop comes to maturity at a
most acceptable time. II furnishes
grain superior to corn for the nutrition
of live stock. The crop comes off the
land for a second crop of hay to be Sc
cured the same season. This crop may
be a legume and therefore help to en-
rich the land. The straw is valuable
asest on every farm, and certainlyd the
oat crop will enable the farmer to feed
and maintain his live stock at a much
lower cost than if he is forced to go
out and buy corn at prices prevailing
now and which are likely to be higher
as the season advances. Therefore, wis
dom and good judgement make 1t clear
that the planting of oats is wise pol
icy to pursue, and no time should be
lost in the preparation of the land and
the seeding of an increased area over
that of any previous year.
Oats may be grown on any soil which
is in fairly good condition. They do their
best however, on well-drained loamy or
...a,. rnAlr fairly uelI siinnlIad with