Warren sheaf., 1917-10-03
CONTROL OF WILD OATS

Specialist Describes Methods, by Sec
tiOns, for Eradicating Most Ser
ious Weed in Spring Wheat.
Wild oats, the worst weed pest in the
hard spring wheat area, can be con-
trolled by rotating crops and by eff
cient rillage methods. As the eradica-
tion methods differ according to the
soil and climatic conditions, special
list of the United States Department
of Agriculture, in a new publication,
describing the control Of this pest,
Farmers Bulletin S33, divides the hard
spring-wheat area OF North Dakota,
South Dakota and Minnesota into three
general divisions and suggests methods
for each.
Sections Where Pest is Prevalent.
These divisions are the Red River
Valley division, which includes western
Minnesota and eastern North Dakota
the western division, which consists
primarily of western North Dakota;
and the southern division, composed
largely of eastern South Dakota and
southwestern Minnesota.
The principle of eradication in all
the methods suggested by the Govern
ment specialist is to cause the seeds of
the wild oat to germinate and then to
destroy the seedlings before they ma
ture. The methods advocated foI each
section described in detail in the bulle-
tin, may be stated here only briefly.
For convenience the methods are num-
bered and in some sections combina-
ton of several methods sometimes may
be desirable, the specialist says.
Methods of Eradication.
Method No. 1.-Summer fallOw Or
pasture-This method consists in allow
ing infested land to lie fallow during
the summer and by plowing and pas
turing to destroy the successive
growth Of wild oats as they germinate
from seeds brought near the surface.
Method No. 2.-Winter rye-The
land should be plowed in the fall and
seeded to winter rye using an early
maturing variety. The rye will mature
and can be harvested the following
spring before the wildcat seeds are
sufficiently mature to germinate. The
field then should be plowed or the
stubble pastured during the rest of the
season.
Method No. meadow Through
out the Red River Valley where heavy
soils predominate wildcat seed will
not live in the ground more than two
years. The common practice, therefore,
for destroying the weed there, is to
seed the land to some crop for hay such
as alfalfa, or timothy and clover, and
after two or three years the wild oats
will be entirely eradicated.
Method No. 4.-Intertilled crops
Wherever rotations which include in
terrified crops can be practiced it is a
comparatively simple matter to keep
this weed under control. The inter
tillage hastens the termination of the
seeds which are left in the soil, and
additional tillage kills the young seed
lings.
Method No. 5.-Early barley
in the autumn to depth Of 3 inches
and prepare good seed bedA by har.
rowing Harrow again in the early
spring in order to promote the germin
alton of the wild oats. After they
have ger1ninated they should be ploW
ed under or 6 inches deep and a good
seed bed prepared. Plant Immediately
an early-1naturing variety Of barley
This crop not only natures early bu
produces a very. dense growth, which
has a tendency to smother weeds. AT
ter the barley is harvested the lane
should be plowed and pastured in ordel
to eradicate any surviving oat plants.
Method No. G.-Barley and rye
Plow the land shallow 6 inches) il
the fall. Early the following sprins
disk or harrow and seed to barley o.
oats. Harvest this crop for hay whit
the Wildcat plants >are stih green
Then plow the land or. inches deep
and in August seed to winter rye. Th,
following summer, after the rye is har
vested, plow the land shallow. Lat
the next spring after the volunteer ry
and wild oats have come up, plow agail
or 6 inches deep and seed. to barley
The barley may be harvested for grail
before the wildcat seeds are sufficient
ly matured to germinate.
Which Methods to Apply.
IN the Red River Valley division
where the soil is heavy clay an
moisture is plentiful, it is probable tina
the most desirable method to use is NJ
3. In the southern division, where th
growing season and climatic condition
are more favorable for the productio
of corn, it is likely that method No.
will be found most practicable. In thi
area the seasons are not so severe as i
the areas farther north and winter ry
is more profitable crop. Method NJ
2 also may be found effective. In th
western division, where the soil is NOR
- 2 - q -. L.