10 MAINE AGRICUI/fURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I9OI. 



light coat should be added and then a supplementary dressing of 

 acid phosphate applied. In using commercial manures alone, it 

 is always best to use a complete manure unless the land has pre- 

 viously been well supplied with nitrogen from stable manures or 

 some leguminous crop like clover or peas turned under, in which 

 case, only phosphoric acid and potash need be applied with per- 

 haps a little nitrate of soda to furnish soluble nitrogen to start 

 the plants early. For a complete fertilizer it is recommended to 

 use one carrying about 2.5% nitrogen, 8% available phosphoric 

 acid, and 3% potash. A part of the nitrogen, at least .5%, 

 should be in a soluble form as in nitrate of soda, and the 

 remainder in some more insoluble form as tankage, ground fish 

 or bone, in order that the young plant may be made vigorous and 

 thrifty by the former, while the older plant can be kept growing 

 by the latter. This recommendation is based upon results of a 

 large number of experiments by Stoeckhardt which were 

 repeated for several years. He found that when soluble nitro- 

 gen was lacking the crop did not prosper in the early stages of 

 vegetation, and also when only soluble nitrogen compounds were 

 used the growth fell off too soon after the plant had flowered. 

 The experiments of both Stoeckhardt and Wolff show that a 

 liberal supply of phosphoric acid is necessary to insure an abund- 

 ance of plump, well-formed grain. Finely ground bone meal 

 with small amounts of nitrate of soda and muriate of potash are 

 recommended as a fertilizer for this crop. 



OATS AS GRAIN. 



Oats are a valuable feed for most all farm animals. The 

 relatively large amount of fiber they contain in proportion to 

 kernel, as compared with most other grains, makes them a safer 

 feed with but little danger of over feeding, when put in the hands 

 of careless workmen. They contain a higher proportion of 

 digestible protein than corn or wheat and are lower in carbo- 

 hydrate materials, consequently the nutritive ratio of the grain 

 is such that it contains in itself a quite well-balanced ration for 

 working animals. They are a very convenient and highly prized 

 grain for feeding horses. They usually are and should be fed 

 unground to horses, unless the animal is unable to masticate his 

 food properly. Experience shows that oats give a horse "mettle," 



