The Harrison times., 1917-02-24
SPRING OATS IS
ALWAYS SAFE CROP
u s Easy to Get Started and Ma.
tures at a Convenient Time
Of the Year.
BY L. w. Osborn,
Experiment station University Of
Arkansas

1
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 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 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
on fields subject to overflow, spring
oats should therefore be given prefer.
ence.
Preparation Of Land.
Though the oat crop In general WIN
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 see 4
bed should be prepared befoFs, s.sa.
ing. Frequently, on good lrand which
has had well-cared.f4or orIt,vo,.d
crop the year before tboroush dou.
BILE disking, follow cd bv a section bar.
-TT ,.n,oh :" o. - quo is necessary. On land
;n. r. 49, "a close nature and lack,
-ne ~ 1ganic matter it is better
v' e to fat break during the win
va Ind disc or harrow before seeding
It'll the land is in good shape.
4 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 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 grain drill
In order to save seed and secure 8
uniform stand. If drill is not avail,
able good results can generally be
obtained by seeding broadcast and
covering with a 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, sipce some varieties hav,
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 car
usually be secured at most seeC
houses. The various Red Rust Proc
varieties which are commonly seeded
in the fall, do very well when seeded
I in the late winter or early spring. A Rec
Rust Proof selection, known as Full
ghum, which was tested for the frs
time as a spring oat this past season
did exceptionally we'll. 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 car
usually be obtained when the crop IL
cut and used for hay
II the crop is cut just as the heads
begin TO turn, the greatest value will
be realized, since the straw is greer
at that time and the whole plant Il
very palatable and makes a high oual