GENERAL REMARKS ON FORAGE GRASSES 27 



of forage throughout the year. Here soiling is the usual 

 method of feeding animals. The grasses most commonly 

 cultivated for this purpose are Guinea grass and Para 

 grass. 



Silage 



The advantage of feeding green forage by soiling is so 

 evident that agriculturists desire to continue, if possible, 

 the feeding of succulent forage throughout the year. 

 This is now made possible by means of silos. The green 

 feed is preserved or canned and fed as wanted during the 

 year. A silo is a large tank or room, in which green 

 forage is placed, the air being excluded so far as prac- 

 ticable. The forage starts to ferment but this process 

 ceases as soon as the entangled air is used up. The 

 material remains in the slightly fermented condition until 

 removed for feeding. If the silo is poorly constructed 

 and air gains entrance, the fermentation continues and 

 the whole mass may become rotten and useless. Al- 

 though any forage plant may be preserved in a silo the 

 plant most used for the purpose is corn. 



NOMENCLATURE OF GRASSES 



The common names of grasses are those by which they 

 are known in the language of the countries in which they 

 grow spontaneously or in which they are cultivated. 

 The English name of cultivated grasses varies in different 

 countries. What is known in the United States as 

 orchard grass is called in England cock's foot. Even in 

 the United States, a grass may be known by more than 

 one name or the same name may be applied to more than 



