62 FORAGE CROPS 



bushels per acre are recommended. The thicker 

 seeding causes a finer growth of stem and a greater 

 proportionate growth of leaf, besides making the 

 crop available for soiling purposes for a longer 

 period. 



Time of harvesting oats 



The time of harvesting should be regulated by 

 the development of the plant, which is at its best 

 for forage when the oat grain is in the milk stage. 

 At this period, the lower leaves are still green, and 

 the succulence is maintained. At this time, also, 

 the plant is richer in protein than either wheat or 

 rye, and apparently the protein is much more 

 digestible than in those crops. Cool, moist sea- 

 sons are most favorable. Light, warm soils, which 

 heat up readily, are uncongenial. 



Yields and value 



The yields vary widely, as the plant is very 

 materially affected by seasonal conditions. The 

 range is from four to ten tons per acre. The 

 average content of dry matter is about 25 per cent. 



The oat crop is also very useful for pasturage, 

 and also for hay when cut at its best period of 

 maturity for forage. The entire plant is much 

 richer in digestible constituents than is timothy 

 hay, and is peculiarly valuable in rations for dairy 



