The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-04-25
Early Seeding of
Oats Is Favored
Crop Develops Best in Cool
Weather and Frequently
Is Hurt by Heat.

Prepared by the United States Department
OF AEriculture)
The first essential for the production
of maximum yields of oats is early
seeding. In most sections oats should
be sown as early as 1t is possible to
get on the land to prepare seed bed.
This crop develops best in cool wealth
er and frequently is injured by few
hot days during the ripening period
For this reason early seeding is prac-
tically always advisable, according to
the United States Department of Agri-
culture.
The date of seeding largely depends
on the locality and season. In the
corn belt the best time usually is dur
ing the latter part of March or early
April In the more northern oat sec
lions seeding usually is not possible
until late April In backward and I'M
favorable seasons the seeding may
have to be delayed until early May.
Flowing Not Favored.
Where oats follow corn, potatoes, or
other cultivated crops, the land should
not be plowed as a rule, but should
be disked and narrowed sufficiently to
make a loose, frlable seed bed about
3 inches deep. Spring blowing usually
results in less satisfactory seed bed,
as there is not sufficient time for the
soil to become wen settled before seed
ing. Further, spring blowing is more
expensive, and thus adds to the cost
of production.
1t always is good practice to SOW the
best seed obtainable. Usually home
grown seed Of standard variety is
better than seed brought in from
distance and therefore of uncertain
adaptability. All seed should be
cleaned and graded.
Seeding with the grain drill requires
less seed than broadcasting, insures a
more even distribution of the seed In
space and in depth and, as a conse-
quence, a quicker termination and
more uniform stand Satisfactory
yields usually follow. Under the more
humid conditions, particularly in the
corn belt, where a good seed bed is
prepared, the usual rate of seeding is
from to 10 pecks. In the dry-land
sections, 4 to 6 pecks usually produce
the most satisfactory results.
Grow Mixed Varieties
In survey of oat varieties made by
the Department of Agriculture a few
years ago, 1t was shown that large
of farmers still grow
mixed varieties, or "just oats" With
the increasing number of selected and
improved varieties on the market,
there is every reason for growing
these In preference to mixed or I'M
adapted varieties. The idea still is
prevalent that any variety of oats I'M
der favorable conditions will produce
as high yields as an improved, we'll
adapted variety, but this is not borne
out by the facts.
For the northeastern states such
varieties as Comewell, Lincoln, Silver
mine, and Swedish Select usually pro-
duce the most satisfactory yields. In
the corn belt earlier varieties are bet
ter adapted. Kherson and the various
selections developed from it, such as
Albion, Iowar, Richland, and States
Pride, are to be recommended. For
the oat section Immediately to the
north of the corn belt, such midseason |
as Green Russian, Swedish
Select, Silvermine. Victory, and Lin
coin, usually are preferable. In the
spring-oat section, In |
Guiding Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, |
and Kansas, the Red Rustproof vari-
sties are the best adapted. Kanota,
strain of Fulghum, has become very |
popular in Kansas, and is now attract |
ng attention in adjoining states. For
he Pacific Northwest and irrigated |
sections midseason white strains of |
he Silvermine and Swedish Select |
types are the most suitable.