THE COMMON CEREALS. 177 



necessary, therefore, to sow the peas or vetches as 

 three to one or two to one by measure, as compared 

 with the oats in the mixture. On the other hand 

 certain soils may be so much better adapted to grow- 

 ing peas or vetches than oats, that in order to secure 

 the necessary support for the former, more than half 

 of the seed by measure must needs consist of oats. 

 When peas and vetches are both sown along with 

 oats, the proportions that ought to be sown of each 

 in the mixture should be determined by conditions 

 that relate to soil and climate, and to the character 

 of the food sought. 



Usually the common cereals are sown to pro- 

 vide soiling food as early as possible in the season, 

 though of course they are frequently sown later; in 

 certain instances as late as midsummer. To prolong 

 the season of feeding, it is common to sow a portion 

 only of the seed at first, and the remainder two or 

 three weeks later, or it is sown at two intervening 

 intervals rather than one. The chief objection to 

 the plan is found in the decreased production of 

 the later sowings, but to this there are some ex- 

 ceptions. 



Another plan sows a quick maturing variety as 

 barley, and at the same time a mixture that grows 

 more slowly, as peas and oats. The period of feed- 

 ing may thus be made to cover from, say five to 

 eight weeks, and if the quantity sown should be in 

 excess of the needs of the stock, it can be turned to 

 excellent account by harvesting it for winter fodder 

 when the grain, or much of it, is in the milk stage. 

 Barley is probably the most suitable of all the com- 

 mon cereals to provide green food in the autumn; 

 12 



