510 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



growth in mixtures. While a great many mixed forages have been grown 



the number which are really suited to farm conditions in this section is 



quite limited. 



I 



OATS AND CANADIAN FIELD PEAS. 



This is one of the most valuable of the early soiling crops. Both are 

 well adapted for this locality and when grown together give moderately 

 large yields of very palatable feed. When the oats are in the milk and 

 the peas have filled the pods, the crop is most desirable and it should be 

 utilized as fast as possible at this stage as the crop ripens rapidly with the 

 feed becoming less palatable. By making two or three sowings of this 

 crop it is usually possible to secure a plentiful supply of green feed for a 

 period of about 30 to 40 days. One of the difficulties which is experienced 

 in growing this crop is that the oats have a tendency to ripen before the 

 peas. This can be overcome to some extent by using a late variety of oats, 

 and if necessary, sowing them a week or ten days after the peas have been 

 drilled. Oats and peas are of sufficient value for soiling purposes to warrant 

 the statement that they should be included in soiling crop systems for 

 this state. 



This crop has proved to be of the greatest service in the early part of 

 the season. Two or three sowings were usually made between April 5 and 

 May 10 at the rate of IVz bushels oats and li/4 bushels peas per acre. The 

 season of availability lasted from about June 20 to the end of July. The 

 yields obtained varied from 5 to 10 tons per acre, the highest yields of green 

 feed being from the early or medium early sowings, and the production 

 cost per ton varied from $2.50 to $5.00 according to the season and the 

 yield obtained. 



This feed was very palatable in the early stages but was usually fed in 

 limited quantities as pastures were then fairly good. From 40 to 60 

 pounds per head per day was the average consumption of oats and peas. 

 Owing to its early ripening tendencies it was suitable for use in the early 

 part of the soiling season only. 



OATS AND COMMON VETCH. 



This mixture has been recommended in some cases in place of oats and 

 field peas but as the yield is usually not as large a with the peas and owing 

 to the extremely high price of vetch seed at the present time, its use in this 

 connection can hardly be considered practical. 



BAKLEY AND CANADIAN FIELD PEAS. 



This crop is quite similar in value to the oats and peas but possesses 

 the disadvantage of the barley ripening even earlier than does the oats. 

 In some sections it is possible to use this crop for fall feeding by sowing 

 the barley and peas after one of the early forage crops have been har- 

 vested. In this way it is possible to utilize the ground for two crops dur- 

 ing the same season and thus barley and field peas may be used to give a 

 liberal supply of forage during the autumn. 



WINTER EYE AND HAIRY VETCH. 



This mixture has given good results, as the vetch increases the yield, 

 and the protein content of the forage. Owing to the high price of vetch 



