The Carlisle independent., 1920-02-26
BETTER FARMING HINTS
Nelson Gives Important Factors In
 Growing Oats


 Plan to plant oats early as 1t is one of the most important factors infiu encing the success of growing oats in Arkansas according to Martin Nell son, Vice Dean of the College of Ag- riculture, University of Arkansas.
 "There are several factors infiuenc 1 ing the success of growing oats in Arkansas, any one of which may de termine in a large measure the kind of crop one will raise, says Dean Nelson.
 "The first important thing to strive for is to do the seeding early. | The season is soon at hand when oats | may be seeded in some parts of the | state and if blowing remains to be lone, it should be done immediately | no matter what the location. Exper- ence has proven that fall blowing or early winter blowing is better tha spring blowing. Before seeding, the soil should be worked into perfect .endition The disk harrow should be used wherever necessary and the pike harrow always used for smooth ing the surface.
 '"The seeding must be carefully done. The practice of blowing the seed under by blowing shallow is a poor one indeed, and the practice of blowing the land in rough condition scattering on the seed and narrowing lightly is likewise poor one. The seed should be planted evenly in depth but not too deep. Just one thing will make proper seeding possible and that Is the grain drill. The seed should be covered from one to two inches deep so that 1t may come up promptly and begin growing imme diately after seeding. 1t is to bring about the early establishment of al perfect and even stand that makes all processes, including blowing, disk ing, narrowing and seeding so impor- tant. The preparation for seeding must be perfect for it can not be remedied after the seeding Is done.
 Rarely are oats seeded too early but they are often sown too late. The delay of week often means a big re- duction in the yield. The Experiment Station has conducted work running through period of ten years or more, with seeding oats at different dates one week apart, beginning as early as possible and covering a period of about two months each sea- son.. The earliest seeding is, as a rule, the best or as good as any other and after the first two or sometimes foll aff very rapidly. The late seeding usual ly brings 9 thin stand, short growth late maturity, and light yield of chaffy grain.
 Do not use seeds sparingly. Two | bushels per acre is the standard rate for most states, and it is the least that should be considered for ATkan- sas. Experiments conducted in seed ing at different rates show that ten to twelve pecks per acre bring the 1 largest yields and most profitable re- ! turns. Even on the thinner soils, seed should be used literally because on l those soils there Is less stooling and thiekening of stands than on rich soil consequently about as much seed is| needed.
 .'The variety will make a difference in the yield, and one should know that he has a variety that yields well or he should try to get better seed. Spring grown Red Rustproof oats are rood. Fulghum is Q desirable varie- ty and Burt oats yield we'll consist ently. In buying seed oats, try to get seed that has been redeemed. It is important that weed seed, cheat bro- ken straw and chafy grains be thrown out before seeding. Do not try to grow oats on wet lands. They will not thrive there.
 "To summarize, important points are: Early seeding, with grain drill. on well prepared soil, using good variety and using seed literally