Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-01
Let Us Have Oats

TIGSuIndDly, every enlHuSldSI4C
Scotchman would acclaim the
title of this article. 1t is well that
it the interest in this wonderful crop
to the people of one small country
Certainly, oats are just as important
a crop to every nation as to the
Scotch, though it is possible they
eat more of them than any other peo-
pie. Certainly, the oat ought to be
as important an institution in our
agricultural economy here in Geor-
gia as anything we possess. 1t
holds the key by which we may UNI
lock and develop new activities of
amazing proportions. If we are ever
to be a live stock state in the
proper acceptation Of that word, it
can only be accomplished through a
greater capitalization of the oat crop.
On few occasions in our history has
it ever been of more moment and
Importance than at the present time.
Last summer, we had d most disas-
trous and prolonged drouth. 1t re-
duced a potential corn crop from
well-above sixty million bushels to
approximate fifty-two million bush
els. We have made as high as sew
enty-two million bushels of corn in
Georgia, and never at any time in
our history have we exported corn.
This means that we have never had
q surplus; or in other words, more
than we required to meet the needs
of our farmers. In fact, we have
never raised nearly enough corn in
Georgia.; and, on that account, our
swine industry has had a checkered
career. For cheap corn and lots
of hogs are synonymous, and, in
proportion as we depart from that
crop, the number of hogs maintained
on our farms and ranches will de-
cline. From this it should not be
gathered that corn alone is the one
desirable crop for hogs. However,
it is the foundation crop, and there
fore one which cannot be overlooked
or ignored. If we cannot increase
our corn crop, statement to which
l do not subscribe, we can certainly
increase cur oat crop, because there
are millions of acres of land in Geor-
gia suited to the cultivation of oats
that lie idle every year.
In this particular year when our
corn crop is a way below what it
should be, we cannot afford to sit
idly by and allow these lands to lie
fallow during the fall and winter.
BY taking time by the forelock, we
can produce a crop which will di
rectly take the place of part of our
corn crop, and, in the case of horses
and mules, we might with propriety
substitute oats altogether for corn
in the ration ordinarily fed them.
We therefore have a really desirable
and proper use for all of the oats
we can possibly grow in Georgia.
The more oats we grow, the better
will be able to take care of our
horses and mules and the larger
amount of corn will we have left
with which to finish off an ever-in-
creasing number of hogs each year.
A more extended cultivation Of the
winter oat in Georgia is therefore a
matter of paramount Importance
from both a material and economic
standpoint
One might suppose that 1t was
very difficult to raise winter oats in
Georgia. No doubt they have the
severe losses from last winters
freezes in mind. 1t is true, that very
large areas of oats were DESTROYED
last winter by one single freeze, and
therefore the farmer says ne is out
of luck, the crop is an uncertain one,
and he will not plant it any more.
In all of these statements, he is fun
damentally wrong. For oats can be
grown as successfully in Georgia as
anywhere in the world, provided GER
tain things are done. One of these is
10 treat the oat seed for smut be-
lore 1t is planted Another is to
plant it in open burrows The third
is to use only rust-proof varieties.
ls there anything difficult about
This program to the landowner. or
to the conscientious, earnest farm.
ers? To the Indifferent, careless man.
the suggestions made may appear as
real obstacles. If he feels that wav
about 1t, he had better not plant any
oats. Someone will say that plant
ing In the open furrow is difficult
ana costly So is any good thing.
"A 1lne house was never built out of
second growth sap pine timber.
Plantlng in open burrows is simply
taxing out crop insurance. The
American people are spending bill.
lions OF dollars a year for life in.
surance. if it is a good thing for the
average man and his family, WHY is
IL not a good thing for the farmer
ana his crop? Let us take out in
surance on the oat crop in Georgia
winch means that we shall plant il
IN open burrows. The cost of This
procedure is nothing as compared
with the loss of the crop. 1t NAV
take a little longer to plant a given
area OF oats by this method, but il
VIII not be necessary to sow them so
thlckly. One can, therefore. save
some fertilizer and seed. One can
plant them later with thee ertaintv
that they will do reasonably well
than when they are sown broadcast
or soWn on the level with an ordi.
nary grain drill.
IL is useless to plant anything but
rust-proof oats in Georgia. I think
the best varieties are the Texas Rust
Proof and the Fulghum. Some other
strains may be included with pro-
prlety, but certainly these are two
standard sorts. 1t is important to
obtain good seed that are true to