104 FARMING ON FACTORY LINES 



district, height above sea level, and so on. The one 

 strong recommendation which it is necessary to make 

 is, u Don't sow too large a quantity of vetches." A 

 vetch hay seed mixture suitable for general purposes 



5-6 Btone of 14 lbs. winter vetches p er 



4 to 5 stone (14 lbs.) winter oats I statute 



4 to 5 stone (14 lbs.) wheat or winter beardless J acre 

 barley ' 



On cold or exposed land, rye, which is hardier, 

 may be sown in place of winter oats. The resultant 

 hay will be slightly inferior to that obtained when 

 oats are included, but against this the rye seed gives 

 a surer crop. 



If it be intended to use the tare crop for soiling, 

 the quantity of vetches may be increased by a stone 

 or so. Also three stone of beans may be added in 

 place of a stone of the cereal seed when ensilage is 

 the object. The beans help the crop to stand better 

 and make it easier to cut and pass through the blower, 

 when the crop has to be chaffed before ensiling. 



If, however, it is intended to cut the crop more 

 than once in the season, the beans should not be 

 included. They do not grow well after being once 

 cut, and, lacking support, the vetches " lodge " and 

 make it more difficult to cut the second or third time. 



Where the seed mixture given proves to be too 

 thin, the obvious remedy is to sow a greater quantity 

 of all the seeds. That is, maintain the same 

 ratio of vetches to cereals, unless experience 

 definitely points to the advisability of altering the 

 proportion as well as the total amount. 



It should also be understood that the quantity of 

 seed recommended assumes fairly early sowing and 

 the use of a drill. If broadcasted or sown late, the 

 quantity of each class of seed should be increased by 

 about a fifth. 



