248 FARM CROPS 



autumn would very probably prove hurtful to the 

 young grass. With a winter crop they should be 

 sown early, so that it will not too much shade the 

 plants while they are young and tender. With a 

 spring crop they should usually be sown at the 

 same time as the grain, but may be sown later. 



From I to 2 pounds of seed will usually prove 

 sufficient to sow to an acre. On winter grain crops 

 the seed will have to be broadcasted. It should 

 then be covered with a harrow. The harrowing will 

 also be helpful to the grain when it is judiciously 

 done. On spring grain it may be sown with the 

 grass-seeder attachment of the grain drill when it 

 has one, and except on stiff soils the seed should fall 

 before the drill tubes. When the seed is thus 

 dropped before the drill tubes it will be sufficiently 

 covered. When it is sown just after the grain it 

 will, in nearly all instances, be necessary to cover 

 it with the harrow, except on lumpy or cloddy soils. 

 On these the roller ought to be used rather than the 

 harrow. 



Of the various kinds of spring grain, barley 

 makes the best nurse crop for turnips, because of 

 the less dense growth which it produces, and be- 

 cause of its early removal. Oats is the most un- 

 suitable as a nurse crop for reasons just the op- 

 posite. 



The value of the turnip crop for forage will de- 

 pend much on the character of the season and soil. 

 In any case, the turnips are not likely to grow so 

 as to hinder growth in the grain crop. But under 

 favorable conditions they will come on after the 

 crop is harvested and will produce an excellent 

 growth of top and root. In very dry seasons they 

 may not give any return, but in turnip-growing 



