592 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



makes a more rapid growth than oats and is less subject to rust. A mixture 

 of barley and peas may be seeded together with a grain drill on well- 

 prepared, fertile soil, preferably clay loam, or broad casted and harrowed 

 in, covering 2 to 3 inches deep. 



This is strictly a succulent pasture crop of especial value for hogs, 

 growing lambs, and fattening sheep. It may be sown in corn at the last 

 cultivation, using about 3 pounds of seed per acre and lightly harrowing 

 it in. Much better results will be obtained by seeding the crop alone on 

 fertile clay loam or black soil, sowing either in drills 30 inches apart, and 

 at the rate of 2 pounds per acre, or broadcasting at the rate of 3 pounds 

 per acre, covering about half an inch deep. The crop will be ready for 

 pasturage within 50 to 60 days from seeding, and on good soils will 

 furnish 20 to 30 tons of green forage. An acre of rape on good land 

 will furnish pasture two or three months for about 20 hogs or as many 

 lambs fed light grain rations in addition. Dwarf Essex rape is the variety 

 to grow. Cattle and sheep should be gradually accustomed to rape, and well 

 filled up on other feed before turning in to graze, otherwise they may 

 bloat. 



BUCKWHEAT. 



This is a quick-growing crop, maturing seed in about 70 to 75 days 

 from the time of seeding. It is chiefly valuable as a grain crop for poultry 

 and hogs, through the ground middlings make rich protein feed for dairy 

 cows. For horses the ground grain may constitute about one-third of the 

 grain ration and when so used is considered equal in feeding value to 

 oats. As forage it may be used as a soiling crop for dairy cows, having 

 considerable value for this purpose. Of the three varieties commonly 

 grown — Japanese, Silver Hull, and Common — Japanese has usually given 

 best results and is recommended for the West. Seed 2 to 3 pecks per 

 acre, either in drills or broadcast, covering 2 to 3 inches deep. While 

 buckwheat will do better on poor land than some crops, it gives best 

 results on well-prepared, fertile soil. The crop is easily killed by frost. 



This crop can be sown in the standing corn at the last cultivation in 

 July and will afford considerable pasturage for all stock. It is often thus 

 sown either alone or mixed with rape for lambs or sheep being fattened for 

 market. If seeded on especially prepared ground the crop will come on 

 much earlier and give considerably more fall feed. Seed at the rate of 

 1% bushels per acre. In pasturing cows on rye the change from other 

 feeds to rye should be gradual to avoid possible taint of milk. Winter 

 varities of wheat if sown at once will also afford a large amount of fall 

 pasture. 



CORN. 



Every farmer knows the value of corn as a supplement to a pasture 

 crop late in summer, for which purpose it may be used for cattle as 



