29? BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



THE CEREALS AS FORAGE 



Indian corn is perhaps the most common plant grown on 

 the American continent. Except in the arid lands, it thrives 

 from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf to Canada. 

 It is the universal crop of the Mississippi Valley, and furnishes 

 more food from an acre of ground than any other common 

 crop. It is keenly relished by horses, cattle, and sheep, both 

 in the green state and as dried roughage. No other plant in 

 summer furnishes so much succulent feed as Indian corn. 

 Grown somewhat thickly, the stalks are finer than common, 



Fig. 155. Cutting the corn crop with a corn harvester, which ties the corn 

 in bundles. Photograph by courtesy Minn. Agr. Exp. Station. 



and give a large yield of either green fodder or dried forage 

 that is quite completely eaten by cattle and horses. In the 

 North, corn produces a smaller plant than in the South, and 

 gives a smaller yield of forage. Very large, heavy stalks, 

 such as are frequently seen in the corn belt, are not so 

 desirable for feeding as those of more moderate size. About 

 one-third of the digestible food is found in the stalk, and two- 

 thirds in the ear. The complete cured plant and ear is com- 

 monly known as corn fodder, and after the ear is removed 

 it is called corn stover. The dry stover, with the help of a 



