176 FORAGE CROPS 
purposes. The object of making a mixture of oats 
and Canada field peas is to improve the quality of 
the crops, as well as to increase the yield, making 
both the total quantity and the character of the 
nutrients superior to those that would be secured 
by using either of the crops alone. The variety of 
oats to be used should be a strong and vigorous 
grower, well adapted to the locality and to climatic 
conditions. Any variety that has proved itself 
superior as a grain- producer may be safely used for 
green forage. It is an advantage to select the best 
seed when planting for forage crops, — quite as 
important in the growing of forage as in the grow- 
ing of grain or seed. 
There is wide difference in the varieties of the 
Canada pea. For average purposes, probably the 
Golden Vine is as satisfactory as any, because it is 
more generally grown and the seed is cheap, and 
because a smaller quantity is required per acre. It 
is a medium-early variety. Early varieties that are 
very satisfactory are Canadian Beauty and Black- 
Hyed Marrowfat. Late varieties are Green-Scotch, 
Greenfield and Prussian Blue. These later varieties 
naturally produce a larger crop, as the period of 
growth is somewhat longer. Where hot weather 
comes on early, medium or medium-early varieties 
are superior. It is safer to plant a distinct variety 
than to depend on mixtures of various kinds, 
which are likely to mature unevenly. 
