62 FORAGE CROPS 
bushels per acre are recommended. The thicker 
seeding causes a finer growth of stem and a greater 
proportionate growth of leaf, besides making the 
crop available for soiling purposes for a longer 
period. 
Time of harvesting oats 
The time of harvesting should be regulated by 
the development of the plant, which is at its best 
for forage when the oat grain is in the milk stage. 
At this period, the lower leaves are still green, and 
the succulence is maintained. At this time, also, 
the plant is richer in protein than either wheat or 
rye, and apparently the protein is much more 
digestible than in those crops. Cool, moist sea- 
sons are most favorable. Light, warm soils, which 
heat up readily, are uncongenial. 
Yields and value 
The yields vary widely, as the plant is very 
materially affected by seasonal conditions. The 
range is from four to ten tons per acre. The 
average content of dry matter is about 25 per cent. 
The oat crop is also very useful for pasturage, 
and also for hay when cut at its best period of 
maturity for forage. The entire plant is much 
richer in digestible constituents than is timothy 
hay, and is peculiarly valuable in rations for dairy 
