114 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



to gather the same from the air. But lands fre- 

 quently exist in which the supply of this element in 

 the soil is so low that the vetch plants sown on them 

 are unable to make a vigorous start unless some 

 fertilizer is applied previous to the sowing of the 

 vetches. If commercial fertilizers are added, pot- 

 ash and phosphoric acid are especially fitted to meet 

 the needs of the plants. 



Sowing. The method of sowing depends to 

 some extent on the nature of the combinations of 

 seeds sown. But the aim should be to sow the seed 

 with the grain drill, since, owing to the globular 

 form of the seed, like peas it is easily uncovered 

 by rain when it lies near the surface of the soil. But 

 it is not necessary to bury the seed so deeply as the 

 pea is usually buried. From two to three inches 

 would seem to be deep enough in any soil. 



Vetches may be sown in various combinations 

 to produce soiling food. The following include 

 some of the more important combinations when 

 sown in the spring: i, vetches and wheat, oats or 

 barley; 2, vetches, wheat and peas; 3, vetches, oats 

 and peas. In figure 13 the vetches do not show 

 though present in quantities equal to the oats. And 

 the following are some of the more important com- 

 binations when the crop is sown in the autumn: 

 I, vetches and winter rye or winter wheat; 2, vetches 

 and winter oats or winter barley; 3, vetches and 

 crimson clover. But there may also be some in- 

 stances where it is preferable to sow the crop without 

 admixture, as when two cuttings are sought from 

 one sowing to provide very tender food for lambs 

 or swine. 



