58 FORAGE CROPS 



least, ill the tissues and be ready for elaboration in 

 early spring. A suitable application may be made 

 of 300 pounds per acre of a fertilizer containing 



Nitrogen 3 per cent 



Phosphoric acid (available) 8 per cent 



Potash 5 per cent 



If wheat is sown primarily for forage the quantity 

 of seed should be larger than when grain is the 

 purpose, or at the rate of two to two and one -half 

 bushels per acre. This is heavy seeding, but there 

 should be no bare spots, and the plants should be 

 so thick as to make the proportion of leaf large 

 and the stems very small, and permit of a longer 

 use as forage. * 



Value and yield of wheat 



The wheat crop is at its best when just in full 

 head, although its use should begin just as it is 

 heading out. Wheat is superior to rye, as it can 

 be fed for a longer period, and is usually more 

 palatable. Wheat is also superior to rye because it 

 contains more dry matter when in a condition suit- 

 able for soiling; therefore, a smaller amount will 

 supply a larger quantity of actual nutrients. When 

 just heading out, analysis shows it to contain on 

 the average 23 per cent of dry matter, and in pro- 

 portions of constituents such as to make the 

 )>roduct a fairly well-balanced ration. In its more 

 nearly matured state it contains a larger proportion 



