Soiling crops may be divided into several classes based on the man. 

 ner of cultivating them. First, the maize and sorghum group, 

 including corn (maize), sorghum, Kaffir corn, milo maize, teosinte 

 and the like ; second, the '' small grains," as oats, barley and wheat ; 

 third, the legumes, comprising the clovers, peas, alfalfa, vetches and 

 soy beans ; fourth, members of the cabbage and turnip tribe, as rape, 

 cabbage, to which may be added mangolds and otlier root crops. Corn 

 is chief among soiling crops, because it grows rapidly and produces 

 more fodder to the acre at a given expense than any other plant. 

 In addition it is readily preserved in a green state in the silo. But 

 it should be supplemented by other crops which may be cut earlier 

 in the season. Corn and the sorghums are southern plants and cannot 

 be planted successfully till the ground is reasonably warm in spring, 

 and do not attain cutting size till midsummer or later. Therefore 

 tlie farmer who is practicing soiling must provide forage other than 

 corn for the early part of the season. This is done by using such 

 quick growing plants as oats, barley, rye and peas ; by sowing rye 

 and wheat in tlie fall or by employing a legume or grass that will 

 winter successfully and grow rapidly in spring, such as clover, 

 alfalfa, crimson clover, or orchard grass. 



Growing the crop, — Corn does best on a w^arm loam. The soil 

 should be thoroughly and deeply plowed. The surface does not 

 require such careful pulverizing as should be given the field 

 intended for wheat. Plant when the ground is warm. 



Formerly nearly all the corn grown for silage purposes was 

 broadcasted. It is true that broadcasting sometimes gives a larger 

 yield than the " hill " or the " row " systems, but practical experience 

 has demonstrated that the yield is at the expense of the nutritive 

 value of the food. Again, during dry seasons, sowed corn is likely to 

 fail because of lack of moisture. If soil is warm and rich, corn for 

 the silo may be grown in rows, but if the conditions are at all 

 unfavorable it should be planted in hills and cultivated both ways. 

 In the northeastern part of the State early varieties should be 

 selected. 



As the seed ripens palatalnlitii of the stalks decreases. — As to the 

 proper time to cut corn for the silo there is a golden mean. If cut 



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