FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR ROOK— PART V. 449 



Corn Belt comprising those great states of Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Mis- 

 souri, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and adjoining portions 

 of others, we must pay due attention to the essentials of the ideal forage 

 for these locations. 



1. Adaptability to local soil and climate. 



2. Palatability. 



3. Heavy yield of digestible dry matter comparatively high in good 

 quality of protein and mineral nutrients, the latter of which should prefer- 

 ably be alkaline in character. The calcium and phosphorus content had 

 best be high, and the crude fibre low. 



4. A narrow nutritive ratio which wall enable the animal to eat a 

 minimum amount of material to do a maximum of balancing. 



5. Succulence. (Which should not be excessive.) 



6. Long pasturage season preferably coming early, staying through 

 the hot, dry and sultry summer, and remaining late. 



7. Endure trampling, so essential in securing a maximum of grazing 

 food. 



8. Permanency. The perennials such as bluegrass and alfalfa are most 

 superior in this regard. 



9. Should be seeded with comparative ease and at reasonable cost. 



10. Had best be leguminous in nature, because we need the nitrogen 

 which may be gathered from the air, thus insuring up-keep in this high 

 priced element of fertility. 



Our experience is that of all crops alfalfa comes nearer furnishing these 

 essentials than any other, but nevertheless rape, red clover, blue grass, 

 (preferably mixed with white or alsike clover) and sweet clover, (espe- 

 cially the first year's growth) stand high in relative merits. 



To squarely place before you some definite, usable figures regarding 

 pasturage indispensable to successful pork production, we place before ycu 

 table I. 



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