84 



FIELD CROPS 



timothy, alfalfa, and the other grasses that are usually grown 

 for forage. On most farms where as much of these grass 

 crops is grown as is advisable in a good system of cropping 

 and where a maximum quantity of corn for grain or silage 

 is produced, there is usually enough roughage so that it is 



Figure 32. — The corn binder for cutting corn for fodder or silage. Much 

 corn is also cut by hand or by some form of cutter which does not bind it 

 into bundles. 



not necessary to grow fodder corn. It has, however, great 

 value as a catch crop. In years when one has failed to get 

 a catch of grass or when, owing to drought, the hay crop is 

 short, it is often advisal^le to plant enough fodder corn to 

 insure sufficient roughage to meet the requirements of the 

 live stock kept on the farm. 



104. Production of Fodder Com. Fodder corn will 

 grow on soil tliat will produce any of the common farm 

 crops, though for its best growth a warm, rich, moist soil is 

 desirable. It is often sown in low places that can not be 

 seeded early in the season. The seed bed for fodder corn 



