Food for ammoniates are unfavorable, as one ot the most important 

 ■^^^"^^ points in high-grade barley is a complete maturity of the 

 58 grain. With soils rich in vegetable matter, the supply of 

 the only digestible ammoniate or v^^hat is exactly the same 

 thing. Nitrated ammonia as Nitrates, continues so late in the 

 season that maturity is retarded seriously. About 400 

 pounds per acre of fertilizer should be applied broadcast 

 before seeding. As soon as the grain is "up," top-dress 

 w^ith 200 pounds of Nitrate of Soda per acre. If the soil 

 is very rich, apply 100 pounds of Nitrate. 



Buckwheat. 



This crop does well on almost all kinds ot soil, but 

 should follow^ a grain or hoed crop — that is, a clean cultiva- 

 tion crop. On thin soils use about 400 pounds of fertilizer 

 to the acre, applied just before seeding, or even with the 

 seed. Heavy soils do not require fertilizing for this crop, 

 as it has exceptional foraging powers, and will find nourish- 

 ment where many grain crops will starve. As soon as the 

 plants are well above ground, apply a top-dressing of 200 

 pounds of Nitrate of Soda per acre, both on strong and light 

 soils. Use one bushel of seed per acre on thin soils, but a 

 heavier application on richer soils. 



Oats. 



This gram does well on nearly all types of soil, but 

 responds freely to good treatment. There is a vast differ- 

 ence in the quality of oats when grown on poor or rich soils. 

 Perhaps no other crop so effectually conceals impoverish- 

 ment; at the same time the feeding value of oats grown on 

 poor soil is very low. In the North oats are sown in the 

 spring, and usually after corn or a turned down clover sod. 

 In such cases the crop is rarely ever given fertilizer, but 

 shows an excellent return for a top-dressing of 100 pounds 

 of Nitrate of Soda per acre. The crop has strong foraging 

 powers, and will find available mineral plant food where a 

 wheat crop would utterly fail. On soils pretty badly ex- 

 hausted, an application of 500 pounds of fertilizer will . 

 yield a profitable return, provided the top-dressing of 

 Nitrate is not omitted. Under any condition of soil or 



