FORAGE CROPS. 3 



the one strong objection, viz., that it would so swell 

 the contents of the book as to make it too unwieldy 

 for commercial use as a text-book. It would also 

 increase unduly the cost of the book to those readers 

 who are desirous of obtaining information only with 

 reference to one phase of this three- fold question. 



Possible Exception to Definitions. Agricultural 

 literature is only in what may be termed the 

 formative stage. And more especially is this 

 true of agricultural text-books. Exception may 

 be taken, therefore, by those critically inclined 

 to almost any definition that may be given of 

 forage crops, and, indeed, of other classes of 

 crops, as, for instance, cereals and field roots. 

 In formulating definitions in agriculture, no bet- 

 ter plan, perhaps, can be followed than to give 

 heed to the common understanding regarding the 

 meaning and application of the various terms in use. 

 But this common understanding is not an absolutely 

 safe guide, since it differs sometimes in communities 

 in regard to the use of a certain term, and often it 

 differs even in the same community. Some time must 

 elapse, therefore, before definitions in agriculture 

 will so crystallize as to assume a form so definite and 

 abiding that it will meet with universal acceptance. 



A Greatly Important Question. The growing 

 of forage crops is to-day what may be termed a burn- 

 ing question, and it is likely to become more and more 

 so with the passing of the years. Some time, and in 

 the future that is near, forage crops other than 

 grasses will be grown from sea to sea, but, of course, 

 not equally in all parts of the continent. The excep- 

 tions will be the range and mountain districts, which 

 forbid a varied agriculture. 



