OATS-AND-PEAS 179 



This may be applied either broadcast, or drilled 

 with the seed at the rate of 200 to 300 pounds per 

 acre. Owing to the fact that the crop makes an 

 early growth, the particular need is for an abun- 

 dance of available nitrogen. 



Quantity of seed, and methods of seeding 



The quantity of seed used on good soils is gen- 

 erally about one and one -half bushels of oats and 

 one and one -half bushels of peas each per acre, 

 although as thick seeding as two bushels of each 

 has been even more successful on well -enriched 

 soils. Many variations may be made in the pro- 

 portions, however, to suit the various conditions 

 of cost of seed, kind of soil and time of seeding. 

 Sometimes increasing the peas to two bushels or 

 two and one -half bushels, and decreasing the oats 

 to one bushel, is practiced. 



The crop should be seeded as early in spring as 

 it is possible thoroughly to prepare the soil. The 

 earlier the crop is planted, the greater will be the 

 likelihood of a perfect crop, as both oats and peas 

 suffer in the hot dry days of summer. It is a com- 

 mon practice to sow the peas from five to eight 

 days earlier than the oats. Many growers recom- 

 mend that the peas be plowed -in from four to six 

 inches, in order that they may root deeply, and 

 thus be better able to resist heat and drought. 



