CHAPTER II 



FORAGE CROPS THAT MAKE GOOD 



Successful and most economical swine husbandry centers to a 

 large extent round the corn and barley crops in America, but it also 

 is determined to a considerable degree by the kind and character of 

 forage crops, and the methods of using them; inasmuch as these 

 forage crops are used to supplement corn, barley and similar 

 grains, being of great assistance in lessening the bill for meatmeal 

 tankage, which costs over $100 a ton, and linseed oilmeal at the war 

 price of around $60 and $65. In other words, the better forage 

 crops, rightly selected, replace these high-priced supplementary 

 concentrates, giving the swinegrower an opportunity to produce 

 the equivalent of these high-priced feeds on his own farm, and in 

 such a manner that they will be harvested by the swine, so that 

 much labor will be saved. 



Why Grow Forage Crops? We grow forage crops because 

 they replace high-priced concentrates. We grow them because 

 they are part of an efficient system of swine production. They 

 afford range which, of course, insures that the growing pigs and the 

 brood sows get considerable exercise, and getting exercise, are 

 healthier. Forage crops are good because they furnish a succulent 

 feed, and thus, because of the succulence, promote digestive tone 

 and well-being. Forage crops permit the hog to drop his manure 

 right on the land, and thus increase fertility. Manure left in the 

 hogyards is often largely wasted; thus indirectly forage crops add 

 to the direct benefits of forage farming. Forage crops, if rightly 

 selected, enrich the land in nitrogen, through alfalfa, clovers, beans, 

 peas and others, which have the power of taking nitrogen from the 

 air. Forage crops insure that at least a part of the ration be self- 

 fed, generally speaking, particularly so if the pigs are allowed free 

 access to these crops. Forage crops help out on the rotation, pro- 

 mote greater industry and resourcefulness in swine raising and di- 

 rectly and indirectly encourage good general farming as well as 

 good swine raising. 



The Rank of Forage Crops. Our greatest forages for the 

 cornbelt rank about in this order: Alfalfa, first; Dwarf Essex 

 rape and medium red clover (and possibly also Mammoth red clover, 

 alsike clover and other clovers, depending on the locality where 

 grown and how grown) second and third; bluegrass (particularly 

 when in the green growing stage and not when dry, hard and 

 brown), fourth; sweet clover ' (particularly of the first year's 

 growth, when it is young, green, tender and rich in its particular 

 constituents, namely, protein, minerals and vitamines that grains 

 lack, and not the second year's growth, after it becomes hard and 

 woody), fifth; and, lastly, there would come these forages: Rye, 



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