64 FORAGE CROPS 



one -half bushels per acre. It thrives on soils well 

 fertilized, as for wheat or rye. In spring it should 

 receive a top-dressing of nitrate of soda of 100 to 

 150 pounds per acre. 



The winter oats will be ready for harvesting a 

 little earlier than spring oats. They should be 

 harvested as other grains, in the milk stage, or 

 just before hardening. The yield is usually not so 

 large as for the spring oats, although when well 

 suited to the soil and well fertilized, from six to 

 eight tons per acre may be secured. This crop 

 also makes an excellent hay if cut when at its 

 best stage for soiling. It will serve a good pur- 

 pose for late fall and earl 5^ spring pasture. When 

 used for this purpose, the land would be ready to 

 plant to corn the latter part of May. 



BARLEY 



In the more northern of the eastern and central 

 western states, barley is a most excellent forage 

 crop. It is better suited for fall forage than for 

 spring forage. It is similar to oats in its soil and 

 manurial" requirements. A rich, deep soil, contain- 

 ing an abundance of vegetable matter, is particu- 

 larly well adapted to the crop. Its requirements 

 in the way of nitrogenous manures are similar to 

 those for oats; therefore, the recommendations for 

 oats would apply equally well to barley. 



