508 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



SWEET CORN. 



Sweet corn is perhaps the most palatable of the corns and is used more 

 for soiling than the other kinds. In yield it ranks close to that secured 

 from dent corn, where the larger varieties are used, and is more satis- 

 factory, since it stays green longer, and the leaves do not fall so quickly. 

 Neither does it become so coarse nor is it so difficult to feed as is dent corn. 

 It furnishes good soilage even when the ears have been removed previous to 

 feeding, a practice followed near canning factories. The length of the 

 feeding period will depend upon the number of varieties grown and may ex- 

 tend throughout a considerable part of the late summer. 



OATS. 



Oats alone were used for soiling on but one occasion. This was a patch 

 of oats sown for grain but beginning to lodge. The yield of 7 tons of green 

 feed per acre was obtained at a cost of $2.90 per ton. However it was not 

 very palatable and the cows refused to eat large quantities of it. It also 

 ripened too rapidly to be a good soiling crop. 



WINTER RYE. 



Rye has been used more for soilage purpose than any other of the lesser 

 cereals. It gives fair yields, averaging perhaps 6 tons per acre; is only fair 

 in palatability and can be used very early in the season for soilage pur- 

 poses. Under some conditions rye has been known to import a peculiar 

 and disagreeable flavor to the milk. It is perhaps more valuable for early 

 pasture than for soiling purposes. 



FOX-TAIL MILLET. 



The various varieties of fox-tail millet include Common, German, and 

 Hungarian, as well as many others. These varieties have been used suc- 

 cessfully by many stations to furnish soiling crops for cows, inasmuch as 

 they may be matured rather late in the fall and may be used until frost. 

 Yields vary, but on the average where a thick seeding of millet prevails, 

 from 10 to 14 tons of green forage are not uncommon. The value of the 

 millet forage are not uncommon. The value of the millet forage depends 

 largely upon the variety. For example, the common millet is fine stemmed 

 and leafy, and makes a very good quality of forage, while the German 

 variety is coarser than the common and not relished as much by the milch 

 cows. Millet matures rather rapidly and under the most favorable cir- 

 cumstances is ready for harvesting forty to fifty days after seeding. In 

 order to secure the best quality of forage, heavy seedings are advisable as 

 two to four pecks have given the best results. 



AMBER CANE. 



Amber cane is one of the most valuable soiling crops for this section. 

 The yield is quite large and under average conditions 10 to 16 tons per 

 acre may be secured. It is succulent and palatable and cows will con- 

 sume large quantities of it. It may be used over a long period of time 

 without becoming coarse or woody. It can also be produced at a lower cost 

 per ton than any other crop grown for silage purposes in this section. Seed- 

 ing should be fairly heavy to insure fine growth of cane, as the finer and 



