122 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



2. Observations with the Cultivation of Mixed 

 Forage Crops. {Field B.) 



The importance of a more liberal supply of nutritious for- 

 age crops for an economical support of dairy 'stock is quite 

 generally recognized by all parties interested. To assist in 

 the solution of that question induced the writer to devote for 

 a series of years special attention to the raising of fodder 

 crops of a high nutritive character and of a li])eral yield. 

 Mixed forage crops, consisting of early maturing annual 

 leguminous crops, clover-like plants and of either oats or 

 barley, suggested themselves for a trial ; for they attain a 

 high feeding value at a comparatively early period of the sea- 

 son, — towards the end of June when in bloom; they can 

 serve with benefit in form of green fodder, hay or ensilage, 

 as circumstances advise, and they yield under fair conditions 

 large quantities. Experiments with peas, Scotch tares and 

 vetches have been already described in previous reports. 

 The results obtained induced the writer to prefer summer 

 vetch {yicia sativa) to both peas and tares, in case of mixed 

 crops. The fields used for the observation were located in 

 diflerent parts of the farm ; they were as a rule in a fair 

 state of cultivation, as far as the mechanical condition of the 

 soil as well as its store of plant food was concerned. The 

 soil consisted in the majority of cases of a somewhat grav- 

 elly loam. 



Yetch and Oats. 

 1893. — Half, an acre of a field which had served during 

 the preceding year for the production of root crops, carrots 

 and sugar beets was fertilized April 26 with 300 pounds of 

 fine-ground bone and 100 pounds of muriate of potash. The 

 fertilizer was applied broadcast and subsequently ploughed in 

 May 8 ; the field was sown with oats and summer vetch, using 

 2 bushels of oats and 25 pounds of vetch. The seeds were 

 sown each by itself, on account of the great difierence in size 

 and general character. The crop made an even and rapid 

 growth. The oats headed out at the time when the vetch 

 began to bloom. At this stage of growth the feeding as 

 green fodder began, July 6. It was continued until the oats 



