GREEN FORAGE AND HAY CROPS 



93 



rye grass, and Bermuda grass. The characteristics and method of 

 seeding, special adaptation, and agricultural value of these and other 

 tame grasses are discussed in standard works on agronomy or for- 

 age crops, and will not be considered here (see p. 177). The 

 various grasses differ considerably in chemical composition and 

 feeding value, and differences due to the stage of development are 

 also of importance. 3a 



Chemical Composition. The chemical composition of some of 

 the common pasture grasses is shown in the following table : 



Composition and Digestibility of Pasture Grasses, in Per Cent 



We note that the moisture contents of pasture grasses range from 

 60 per cent to 80 per cent, and in the case of very young plants, 

 especially of Indian corn or legumes, it may even go over 90 per cent. 

 The proportion of nutrients that animals on pasture receive in the 

 early season is, therefore, very small, and they have to consume 

 large amounts thereof to maintain their body weights. Unless they 

 receive a feed of dry roughage in addition, they will not be likely to 

 increase in weight or maintain a fair production on such immature 

 forage crops. Most of the analyses given in the table show the 

 average composition of the grasses at the time of bloom, when they 

 would be cut for hay, while the pasture grass was cut and sampled 

 at a rather immature stage. This explains why the nutritive ratio 

 of pasture grass is 1 : 4.5, while the ratios of the other grasses 

 approach or exceed 1 : 10. Timothy is seen to have the widest 

 nutritive ratio, viz., 1 : 14.2. 



Grasses are generally sown in mixtures with clover or other 

 legumes, since the growing habits of the different plants differ, and 

 a permanent palatable herbage will thereby be secured throughout 

 the season. Grasses and hay crops, like other crops, will yield the 

 largest amount of nutritious feed when grown on well-fertilized 



3 a Farmers' Bulletin 66; U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 201. 



