OATS-AND-PEAS 177 



Preparation of soil, and manuring 



Oats -and -peas are usually grown on land on 

 which a cultivated crop has immediately preceded, 

 although good crops may be obtained on sod land 

 if it has been plowed in the fall or very early 

 spring and deeply cultivated. The land should be 

 well and deeply prepared, in order to furnish a 

 deep seed-bed for the peas. The areas best suited 

 to the crop are cool, moist lands. When the 

 weather is cool and moist, the season is much 

 more favorable than when hot and dry. 



This crop responds very favorably to applica- 

 tions of yard manures. In fact, there is no other 

 manure that will so well or so completely meet the 

 requirements; the organic matter contained in it 

 aids materially in the development of the soil bac- 

 teria, and the soluble nitrogenous and mineral salts 

 feed the plants abundantly in the early stages of 

 growth. The manures should be broadcasted at 

 the rate of eight to ten tons per acre after plowing, 

 and thoroughly harrowed into the soil. When a 

 smaller quantity of manure must be used, it may 

 be fortified by an application of a good fertilizer 

 mixture whose constituents have been derived from 

 good sources and containing 



Nitrogen 4 per cent 



Phosphoric acid (available) 6 per cent 



Potash 6 per cent 



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