OATS 61 



of the crop. The forcing of leaf and stem prevents 

 normal ripening and encourages those conditions 

 which are favorable for the attack of fungous dis- 

 eases. The fertilizer should contain a large pro- 

 portion of its nitroge^ in the form of a nitrate. 

 A good dressing should consist of at least 



Nitrogen 12 pounds 



Phosphoric 'acid (available) 20 pounds 



Potash 10 pounds 



Or, an application of 300 pounds of a mixture 

 containing 



Nitrogen derived from nitrate 4.0 per cent 



Phosphoric acid (available) 7 percent 



Potash ^ 3.5 per cent 



It is well known that after the food in the seed 

 is used by the plant, the crop does not grow rap- 

 idly. This is thought to be due in part at least to 

 the absence at this season of available plant-food 

 of the right kind, since liberal applications of 

 nitrates and superphosphates seem to produce a 

 continuous and rapid growth. That this suspen- 

 sion of the vegetative activities should be over- 

 come in the case of forage crops is important, as 

 it hastens the development and makes it possible 

 to secure the crop at an early period. 



When seeded primarily for forage, the quantity 

 of seed should be greater than when sown together 

 with peas. From two and one -half to three 



