Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1896 — Oats and Field Peas for Green Fodder. [ARTICLE]

Oats and Field Peas for Green Fodder.

Purdue Unlvesity Agricultural Experiment Station. Newspaper Bulletin No. 22, March 25, 1896* Feeders are coming to recognize more and more the necessity of plenty of green food for stock when gra» is getting short. Owners o f dairy cattle in particular feel this necessity. _ Fof two years at tRe- Indiana Experiment Station, we have planted Canada field peas and oats, for this purpose. The first year of planting, we scattered pea seed at the rate of i bushel and one-half an acre over the ground, and plowed land, which was then thoroughly harrowed. In 1895, the above practice was not followed. The land was plowed about seven inches deep, and then harrowed to a fine tilth. A mixture of oats and peas, at the rate of one and one-half bushels of each per acre, was then drilled in, to the depth of about two inches. The plants thrived with great vigor, until severe drouth checked their growth, in common with ail other faim crops. Either method. of planting will no doubt be gatisfactoiy. In planting oats and peas, the first seeding should be gotten in at the earliest date possible, when the land may be satisfactorily worked. One or two more plantings, at ten day intervals, will give a good succession of crops, covering about six weeks •

While catting the green crop may begin as early as wished, after some length of stalk has been secured, it' is advisable to wait until the oat head begins to expand, and when the peas are passing from the bloom. The best plan is to secure the green fodder as close to the maturity stage as possible consistent- with about three weeks of use for soiling. Oats and peas make highly nutritious and palatable food. They also give the earliest green fodder to be secured from plantings of the same season, and follow nicely after winter rye for soiling. This crop is coming monr and more into favor. Oats and peas should only be planted early in spring, as, these plants as a rule .will not thrive from May or summer seeding*. If not all green the balance of the crop may, with advantage, be plowed under or cured for hay. The expense for seed is not great. Oita may be bought in the market at prices Trying from 15 to 25 cents per bushel, according to location. The pea seed purchased by this station this spring, cost 90 cents a bushel laid down at the home depot. In buying be sure and get Canada held pea seed. Green oats and peas are eaten with a relish by horses, cattle, sheep and swine. C. S. Plumb, Director.