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 nitrogen in the form of a nitrate. 
A good dressing should consist of at least 
Nitrogen: s.4. 5) @ a a wea Ge a ee 12 pounds 
Phosphoric acid (available). ...... 20 pounds 
Potash.e «% 2 2.0 eae Ya aes Rw 10 pounds 
Or, an application of 300 pounds of a mixture 
containing 
Nitrogen derived from nitrate. .... 4.0 per cent 
Phosphoric acid (available). . .. .. 7.0 per cent 
Potash gaa eh ea hey eee ew % 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 
