136 FORAGE CROPS 
possible to get on the land, that the soil may be 
suitably compacted before the drying winds of 
spring absorb the moisture. Following the plow- 
ing, the tillage should be deep and thorough, both 
_to warm the soil and to make the surface as fine 
- as possible. When soils are loose and porous, the 
‘ necessity for deep and repeated tillings are not so 
“great as when they are heavy and compact. If 
-the soil is not plowed until immediately preceding 
planting, it is likely to be cold, preventing quick 
germination; and should dry weather follow, the 
surface rapidly dries out and the plants will not 
absorb sufficient moisture from the lower layers to 
cause rapid and continuous growth. When the 
crop is planted on land that has not had a cover- 
crop, the recommendations may be modified to 
some extent; a little deeper plowing may be made, 
and less tilling is required to get it into first-class 
condition. 
Manures and fertilizers 
When the aim is to secure as large a yield of 
succulent food as possible, and of superior quality, 
it is absolutely necessary that the plants have an 
abundant supply of plant-food throughout the 
entire season. Therefore, even on good soils, the 
fertilization should be liberal. Manure may be 
placed on the surface in the fall, in which case it 
serves as a muleh during winter, absorbing mois- 
