284 Bulletin 135. 



greatly decrease the expense of the production of milk and the 

 cost of maintaining cattle and economize land very materially. 

 A highly nutritious forage would be obtained, rich in protein and 

 furnishing nearly a balanced ration for milch cows. A large 

 amount can be produced per acre and it may be grown from early 

 spring to late fall. A slight freeze does not affect it, and it may 

 be sown in the spring before frosts are over and the late forage fre- 

 quently remains in good condition until December. The oats and 

 peas at this station sown August ist, 1896, were in good condition 

 for feeding until a severe freeze on the night of December 2d cut 

 them down. For late forage, however, barley and peas are 

 recommended instead of oats and peas. For sowing any time after 

 July ist substitute barley for oats. The reason for this is that in 

 late summer barley makes more rapid growth, is less likely to 

 attacks of rust and other fungous diseases than are oats. Fig- 

 ure 77 shows the relative growth of oats and barley in late sum- 

 mer, the tall plants being barley the shorter ones oats, seed for 

 which was sown August ist and photograph taken in late October. 



Preparation of Soil for Oats and Peas. 



This crop loves a mellow, loamy soil but will grow fairly well 

 on soils ranging between heavy clay and sand and produce liberal 

 returns. For early forage land should be selected which is 

 moderately open and porous so that the plowing may be done 

 early. Those soils containing a comparatively large percentage 

 of clay can better be used where late forage is desired. Land 

 should be plowed deep and in cases where sod is inverted the 

 jointer should be used. 



Method of Seeding. 



While the land is still rough as left by the plow the peas should 

 be sown broadcast at the rate of about one bushel per acre. Then 

 the harrow should be used and the land thoroughly fitted and fined 

 for oats. This fitting will cover the peas deeply and well, and it 

 is to secure this deep covering that the peas are sown directly after 

 the plow. Oats may then be sown broadcast or drilled in the 

 ordinary way, using one bushel to one and a half bushels of seed 

 per acre. If the soil is somewhat porous, sandy or gravelly, the 



