64 FORAGE CROPS 
one-half bushels per acre. It thrives on soils well 
fertilized, as for wheat or rye. In spring it should 
receive a top-dressing of nitrate of soda of 100 to 
150 pounds per acre. 
The winter oats will be ready for harvesting a 
little earlier than spring oats. They should be 
harvested as other grains, in the milk stage, or 
just before hardening. The yield is usually not so 
large as for the spring oats, although when well 
suited to the soil and well fertilized, from six to 
eight tons per acre may be secured. This crop 
also makes an excellent hay if cut when at its 
best stage for soiling. It will serve a good pur- 
pose for late fall and early spring pasture. When 
used for this purpose, the land would be ready to 
plant to corn the latter part of May. 
BARLEY 
In the more northern of the eastern and central 
western states, barley is a most excellent forage 
crop. It is better suited for fall forage than for 
spring forage. It is similar to oats in its soil and 
manurial requirements. A rich, deep soil, contain- 
ing an abundance of vegetable matter, is particu- 
larly well adapted to the crop. Its requirements 
in the way of nitrogenous manures are similar to 
those for oats; therefore, the recommendations for 
oats would apply equally well to barley. 
