266 Fertilizers 



ance for grain crops, while important, is not so impor- 

 tant a matter as in the case of forage crops, since an ex- 

 tension of the period of growth simply delays ripening, 

 while in the latter, delays not only prevent maximum 

 growth within a certain time, but seriously interfere 

 with rotations. 



Winter oats, which are successfully grown in the 

 southern sections of the country, should be fertilized 

 at time of seeding practically in the same manner as 

 wheat; that is, dressings furnishing small amounts of 

 nitrogen and considerable phosphoric acid, to be fol- 

 lowed in spring with a top-dressing of nitrate of soda, 

 not to exceed 100 pounds to the acre. 



Oats and peas. 



Where oats are grown with field peas for the purpose 

 of supporting the vines, as well as to obtain a larger yield 

 than from either alone, the fertilizer should also contrib- 

 ute toward the increase in the pea crop, and hence a 

 greater abundance of the minerals should be applied, 

 though it is very desirable in this case, too, to encourage 

 the rapid growth of the oats by reasonably liberal supplies 

 of available nitrogen. (See Fig. 23, Plate XII.) 



Barley and peas. 



The growth of this combination of plants is a desirable 

 one when late fall forage is needed, and as a crop, is well 

 adapted for fall conditions. The fertilization should 

 be liberal, in order to encourage a rapid and large appro- 

 priation of food, which may be elaborated after light 

 frosts occur. An application of 200 pounds to the acre 

 of a mixture of 100 pounds of nitrate of soda, 175 of acid 

 phosphate and 25 of muriate of potash will furnish suffi- 

 cient and good proportions of the plant-food constituents. 



