Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1918-04-05


Oats in the United States Us ex-
ceeded in acreage and value only by
corn and wheat of the grain crops.
The average area annually devoted
to this crop in this country in the five
years from 1912 to 1916, inclusive was
39, $4,000 acres. This is approximate
ly three-eighths of the acreage devoted
to corn, and three-fourths of the acre
age devoted to wheat In the same
years. The estimated average produc-
ton Of oats in these five years was l.
zoe, $4,000 bushels, with an est.
mated farm value Of $521 100000. But,
notwithstanding this, less attention
has been given to the production of
oats than to any other important grain,
so that yields often have been unsatis-
factory and the crop sometimes I'M
profitable.
Best Soils for Oats.
In the production of oats proper
climatic and cultural conditions are
of more Importance than the charac
ter or even the fertility of the soil.
Owing to their greater water-holding
capacity loan and clay soils usually
produce better crops than sandy soils.
Sandy land with plenty of plant food
and a moderately stiff subsoil will
grow good oats, but heavy, undrained
clays are too wet and cold for the best
growth Of the crop. More water is
required to produce a pound of dry
matter in oats than in any other
cereal; hence the necessity for grow
ing this crop on land that naturally
retains moisture or that is we'll filed
with humus. On account of their liabll-
ity to lodge, oats should not be grown
on very rich soil or on low, undrained
lands. Good drainage is essential also
in the prevention of injury from plant
diseases.
Fertilizers and Manures.
Though the crop is vigorous feeder
and will do better on poor soils than
most other grain crops, the judicious
use of fertilizers or manure is usually
profitable The fertilizer problem Is
made difficult, however, by the fact
that on rich soil oats make a rank
growth, which often results in lodging
and in conditions favorable to rust
and other diseases.
Unless the soil is very low in fer
tility the direct application of barn.
yard manure to the crop is seldom
advisable. Much more satisfactory
results usually can be obtained by ap-
plying the manure previous to grow
ing some other crop in the rotation,
such as corn. The oats then will get
the benefit of part of the manure
and of the added humus in the soil,
with less danger that rank growth
of straw will be made at the expense
of grain production. On very poor
soil a few loads of well-rotted manure
may be applied some time previous to
sowing oats. The manure should be
spread as evenly as possible and
should be well worked into the soil.
The use of small quantity Of raw
rock phosphate with the manure Is
usually advisable.
Of the three most important
plant-food elements, nitrogen, phos-
phorus, and potash, phosphorus is the
one most often present IN lnsu1nclenL
quantities for the best production of
oats
Preparation Of the Seed Bed.
Less attention ordinarily is given to
che preparation Of the seed bed for
oats than that for any other field crop.
In the corn belt, where oats commonly
follow corn, the seed is often sown
broadcast without previous preparation
of the land 1t is then covered by
disking and narrowing. Much better
results are obtained, however, by
disking the land before seeding,
whether the seed is sown broadcast or
is drilled. A good seed bed usually
can not be prepared with fewer than
two diskings and at least one harrow
ing. If the oats are to be sown on
cortland on which the stalks are still
standing, it is good practice to break
the stalks before disking. This can
be done readily, especially on frosty