Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-05

suitable date. tests were inaugurated
at Athens and have been continued
there IOr several years. 1t was found
that the Appler Oat Wnen planted &c
tober 10th made an average yield OF
45.9 bushels throughout a period of
several years. When planted November
18th an average yield OF 29.5 bushels
was obtained. There was a difference,
therefore, due entirely to the time OF
seeding, of an average return per acre
equivalent 20 1914 bushels OF oats. The
FulSuum oat, planted october 10Th,
made an average yield of 400 bushels.
When planted November 18th there was
a WELD OF 24.3 bushels. The same equiv
alent difference in yield IS obtained
definitely. however, that the great ma
jority OF our farmers do not plant oats
NJ the most suitable. date, imagining
that because the weather is open and
mild during this season of the year
that there is plenty of time Tor seed
ing this crop, and so a very conSid'
CRADLE part OF the oats we attempt 10
crow are planted As late as November
18th 10 December LIST. The result rs
me destruction OF very considerable
percentage of the area each year by
The one or two severe freezes of the
average winter
In preparing the seed bed for oats
great care should be observed. 1t is not
necessary that the land be turned. Cross
decd We have tested this proposition
out as carefully as possible for several
years past Where the land was double
diSked and a fine fTiable seed bed free
of weeds prepared an average yield OF
455 bushels per acre was obtained.
Where the land was plowed the aver
age yield per acre became 41.S bushels.
The reader Will observe that there was
rot q sufficient increase to pay for the
moving of the land. These results, OF
course, were obtained on soil which had
been wei! handled and contained fairly
liberal amount of humus and available
plant food. on thinner and poorer SOILS
il is probable that blowing would be-
come more important ana would pay a
i2l ger return on the outlay involved
than was true in the test TO Whlch rel
crenCe has been made.
In the matter OF fertilizer the oat
crop is quite sensitive. We have round
phosphate at the time of seeding. with
say 100 to 200 pounds of cottOnSeed
meal, depending on the natural fertility
of the land. 1t is possible to produce
oats on soils which have been well FER
uliZed previously without the use OF Sny
organic nitrogen applied at the time OF
planting. On a great many OF our SOILS
however we have found the use of or
ganic nitrogen at the time Of seeding to-
be both desirable and profitable. YARD
manure is. of course, an eNcellent 1er-
tilizer for oats. As a rule 1t is better
applied to the succeeding crop. II IL Is
well rotted il may be scattered over the
surface of the ground and disked in
while the land is in course OF prepara-
ton. 1t can be used as top pressing
as well after the oats are up. we would
hardly feel justified in recommending
an application Of lime for oats alone. II
lime were applied to oats and this crop
followed by legumes its use would no
doubt be justified. The oat crop responds
probably more freely to top dressing
with nitrate of soda in the spring than
any other of the cereals we ordinarily
FRN ann Y
the nitrate would be about February 10
in south Georgia and March IN nortn
Georgia Application made at later
date did not prove effective.
oats NAV be seeded either broadcas'
and covered with a turning plow,' soWn
with an ordinary grain drill, or planted
in wha- is known as the open lutToW
II ethod. In north Georgia on our cray
lands the open furrow method is the
most certain method OF planting to fol-
low during q period of years. On SOILS
Of this type the damage from heaVlnS
and freezing is Likely 10 cro De is T dsSa!
aged or destroyed in north Georgia by
az most one or two freezes, hence plant,
ing in the open furrow is to be aaNlsea
as n general practice. And again much
Cepends on the skill of the 22rmer, the
character OF the soil. Our experience
shows that broadcasting is only h}S
and miss method of planting oats ana
that il is a mistake to follow It..
Oat seed. of course, should be treated
for smut before it is planted. The for
method of combating TINS
disease is advised. This is a cneap ana
efficient treatment. We advise seeding
from six to eight peckS per acre
AS to varieties of oats there is con-
siderable latitude for choice. The APP
pier, during period OF hxe years, maui a,,r
test area here at Athens. The IeNaS
Rustproof was second, with a yleid OF
64.9 bushels. These varieties would an
fore, we'll adapted for general cultiva-
ton throughout Georgia. The Fulghum
--ade an average yield of GLIB busheIs'
he CulbeTson a yield or 46.i DuSheis'
ois. and the Early Ripe a yield Of 300 |
bushels. Many other varieties nave
lcen used but not for so long q period |
Of time. we regard the first three as
.-andard sorts, which can be seeded |
.rrcessfully under widely varying con-
itions. They are rot the varieties, OF
course. but they ""e among the best
.-uiCh can be selected Tor seeding IN
-ither the Piedmont or the coastal plain !
region of the southeastern states.
oats constitute one of the finest con- |
centrates for feeding to horses ana
mules available at the present time. we |
are not using a balanced ration with TINS |
class of animals. We are feeding corn |
alone which is deficient in protein and |
ash matter. BY combining oats and |
corn in equal proportion we would great |
" improve the ration of our work stock. |
This is a matter of such surprising inn |
portance that the land owners atten- /
ton should be strongly centered on it. /
The wise and progressive farmer will, |
therefore. devote as large an area as |
possible to the oat crop this fail. In !
doing so he viii be experimenting the |
effort which the nation is making to in !
tensify the production of wheat and all I
other grain crops suitable for human /
food or the maintenance of our farm an /,
imals on a basis commensurate with our !
present national needs.