142 FORAGE CROPS 



green forage until the ears have matured, as the 

 tendency of the animals will be to eat the ears in 

 preference to the other parts of the forage, and 

 the master cows will appropriate an undue pro- 

 portion and possibly be injured by an excessive 

 supply, particularly if the forage is distributed in 

 the field. For soiling, the forage should preferably 

 be used before the grain has hardened. 



Composition and value of crop 



Corn in its best stage for green forage contains, 

 on the average, and for all varieties, 20 per cent 

 of dry matter. This dry matter is much richer in 

 carbohydrates than wheat or rye forage. There- 

 fore, so far as total nutriment is concerned, it is 

 much superior to these crops, as well as to the 

 millets, sorghums or kafir corn. That is to say, a 

 larger proportion of feed in a succulent and 

 digestible form is contained in a smaller amount 

 of forage. Usually from forty -five to fifty pounds 

 per day will supply the needs for roughage, as 

 compared with fifty to seventy -five pounds of 

 millet or either saccharine or non- saccharine sor- 

 ghums. 



Corn can be utilized through a longer period 

 than any other crop. Therefore, the plantings 

 should be made at different times; and as any 

 one seeding can be used for a period of fifteen to 



