GREEN FORAGE AND HAY CROPS 



125 



very satisfactory combination in regions where the cowpea does well 

 and reaches maturity at about the same time as either sorghum or 

 corn. Sumac sorghum and some vigorous growing variety of cow- 

 pea, like Brabham or Unknown, appear to give the best crops, six 

 parts of cowpeas with one part of sorghum making about the desired 

 proportionate stand in the mixture. The hay is greatly relished 

 by stock if cured properly. 17 



Soybean (Glycyne hispida, Fig. 21) is of greater importance 

 for seed production than for forage purposes, except in the South, 

 where its value as a forage plant, for feeding green, as hay or as 

 silage, is about as great as for production of seed. It is grown for 

 the sake of the seed throughout the United States about as far 

 north as corn will mature. In the Gulf States it will usually yield 

 six to ten tons of green forage or silage to the acre and one and one- 

 half to three tons of hay. Soybean fodder is a high-protein feed 

 that can be produced under practically the same conditions as can 

 Indian corn. 18 The composition of the soybean plant is quite simi- 

 lar to that of alfalfa, as will be seen from the following table : 

 Composition of Soybean Plant, in Per Cent 



Velvet bean (Mucuna utilis) is another forage crop that is 

 highly recommended for southern agricultural conditions. It is 

 considered especially suited to Florida, but has a similar range of 

 culture as Japanese cane (p. 112). It is grown for both seed and 

 forage; in the latter case the crop may be cut for hay when the 

 young buds are well formed, allowed to wilt for about 48 hours, and 

 cured in shocks for several days; or it may be left in the field 

 throughout the winter and fed as needed. The beans contain about 

 18.8 per cent protein, 6.3 per cent fat, and 53.7 per cent nitrogen- 

 free extract. They are fed in the same manner as cowpeas or cotton 

 seed in the South, and are relished by all farm animals except 

 horses, that apparently do not care for them. Velvet bean forage 



17 Farmers' Bulletin 458. 



"Cornell Bulletin 310; Delaware Bulletin 96; Farmers' Bulletin 58. 



