The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-03-31
Oats and Peas for Forage, Selling
and Fodder.

stock in all our nothern and middle
states and more especially in the states
that border upon the Canadian prov
inces. In many OF those states, dairy
ing has been carried on extensively
during recent years, and with such an
industry flourishing in these respective
states, it is indeed surprising that this
mixed crop has not been grown to
far greater extent during the recent
past. The little attention, relatively,
that has hitherto been given to this
crop finds explanation partly in the
fact that its great value has not been
sufficiently understood by our people,
but more in the further fact that the
price OF peas for seed has been unduly
high when compared with the price of
oats.
Why Grown in Combination-Pea
and oats should frequently be grown in
combination, for the reason first, that
when thus grown they furnish food
possessed of much value for pasture,
soiling aud fodder uses. Second, the
oats sustain the peas so that the mix
ture may be rapidly cut and bound, if
necessary, by ordinary binders. And
third, more food may thus be produced
from given piece Of land. If oats are
sown alone they are less relished by
live stock, and if peas are sown alone
they fall down upon themselves at a
comparatively early stage of growth,
hence the pslatability of the straw is in
jured and the labor of cutting is much
increased.
Soil Conditions-Of course the more
suitable and the richer the soil, the
larger the crops that will be reaped.
Light sands are ill adapted to the pro-
duction Of sufficient bulk of fodder.
The best soils for the purpose are rich
moist loans, lying on subsoil of clay,
which does not come too near to the
surface. Black loans are good and
nearly all prairie soils possess the
requisite adaptation in fair degree.
1t is specially advantageous to the pea
crop when the soil has in it goodly
sprinkling of clay.
Preparing the Ground.-In preparing
the soil, it is usually preferable to pillow
the land in the fall. One chief advan-
vantage of such blowing is to have the
ground ready for early spring sowing,
but fall blowing is usually attended
with several other advantages that will
not now be named. But in states where
there is much rain in winter, and but
little snow and frost, it may be we'll to
defer blowing until spring. The farm.
ers will know which mode of dealing
with the land will be most suitable for
their respective localities. The i'm
portant points are, to have the land
ready for early sowing and to have
good well nrenarpd seed hed
Time of Sowing.-Usually the seed
should be sown as early in the season
as possible. When thus sown the weld
is likely to be larger than when sown
later. Early sowing should be the aim
therefore when the crop is sown for
pasture on fodder, and more commonly
this should be the aim when it is sown
for soiling uses. But for these uses the
season of soiling on this food will be
prolonged, if first portion of the area
is sown early, a second portion II TO IA
days later, and perhaps third portion
IL to IA days later than the sowing of
the second portion. In moist seasons
this plan will work admirably. In dry
seasons the yield will be light in pro-
portion to the lateness of the sowing.
Mode of Sowing. Whether the seed
is sown for pasture, soiling or fodder
uses, the grain should be mixed before
sowing it. 1t can be sown to best ad-
vantage with the grain drill. The seeds
should be buried at least three inches
in the soil to insure sufficient cover
ing for the same. If the peas are not
put we'll down in the soil aud a shower
should fall within the next few DAYS.
some of the peas would be washed bare
If sown broadcast and covered with the
harrow. When the first blades OF the
crop can be discerned, harrow with
teeth slanting backward should be run
over the ground. The surface being
thus stirred retains moisture much bet
ter in dry weather, and the weed seeds
that are just sprouting, it may be, nu-
merously, on the surface of the ground.
will be destroyed. In dry areas, the
narrowing thus given will prove ex-
ceedingly helpful to the crop, and in
any locality it should prove very helpful
unless there is 30 much moisture in the
soil when the grain is beginning to ap-
pear as to forbid dealing thus with the
land. The practice is somewhat COM
mon in the United States to SOW the
peas broadcast on the land, and then to
pillow them in four to five inches deep
and later to SOW the oats by hand and
cover with the harrow. In the opinion
of the writer this laborious mode of
putting in the mixed crop has no ad-
vantages over the mode outlined above,
and as compared with the same it has
some distinct disadvantages. First,
spring-plowed land loses moisture much |
more readily than land plowed in the
fall. Second, the crops could not be
sown 80 early. Third, it would involve
more labor at busy season, and fourth,
the harrow could not then be used to
the same advantage.
Amount of Seed.-The correct |
amount of seed to SOW will depend on
many conditions, as the object for
which the mixed crop is grown and the
character of the soil and climate. The
farmer must ascertain this for himself.
For pasture il will be we'll to SOW not
less that two and one-half bushels per
acre of the mixture, and usually in
equal proportions. For soiling and
fodder uses, about the same amounts
of the mixture should be. sown, but in
varying proportions. In Ontario one
bushel of peas and one and one. half