OATS-AND-PEAS 179 
This may be applied either broadcast, or drilled 
with the seed at the rate of 200 to 300 pounds per 
acre. Owing to the fact that the crop makes an 
early growth, the particular need is for an abun- 
dance of available nitrogen, 
Quantity of seed, and methods of seeding 
The quantity of seed used on good soils is gen- 
erally about one and one-half bushels of oats and 
one and one-half bushels of peas each per acre, 
although as thick seeding as two bushels of each 
has been even more successful on well-enriched 
soils. Many variations may be made in the pro- 
portions, however, to suit the various conditions 
of cost of seed, kind of soil and time of seeding. 
Sometimes increasing the peas to two bushels or 
two and one-half bushels, and decreasing the oats 
to one bushel, is practiced. 
The crop should be seeded as early in spring as 
it is possible thoroughly to prepare the soil. The 
earlier the crop is planted, the greater will be the 
likelihood of a perfect crop, as both oats and peas 
suffer in the hot dry days of summer. It is a com- 
mon practice to sow the peas from five to eight 
days earlier than the oats. Many growers recom- 
mend that the peas be plowed-in from four to six 
inches, in order that they may root deeply, and 
thus be better able to resist heat and drought. 
