SILAGE AND FORAGE CROPS. 231 



their region. There is considerable difference in 

 these in adaptation to use as fodder crops. Those 

 with the largest number of joints and greatest per- 

 centage of leaves should be selected. 



In some cases a crop of corn may be grown for 

 cutting green or for ensilage, on ground which has 

 produced a crop of wheat, rye or barley. If there is 

 sufficient moisture in the soil to permit germination 

 and fairly vigorous growth of the young plants a fair 

 yield may be secured, but there is not often sufficient 

 time to allow the crop to mature. 



Large as is the yield of good food from a well 

 managed crop of corn grown for soiling or ensilage, 

 it is probably generally over-estimated. Reports of 

 yields of 20 or 25 tons per acre are commonly made 

 and in some cases are correct. But these are much 

 above average results, even under favorable con- 

 ditions. For the country at large 15 tons per acre is 

 a good crop in fields of fair extent. 



S^orghnm. — The sweet sorghum has been highly 

 recommended as a crop for soiling or for ensilage 

 and is grown to some extent for these purposes. Ex- 

 cept in regions with deficient rain- fall it is not the 

 equal of Indian corn. The yield is not greater, and 

 in the great corn-growing regions the culture is rather 

 more costly because of the slower growth of the 

 young plants, often making hand hoeing necessary to 

 free the hills of weeds. The crop is more difficult 

 to cure for use as dry fodder, and in most cases the 

 ensilage made from it has not been so satisfactory 

 as that from corn. 



Good results have been had when sorghum has 

 been grown in Western Kansas, Nebraska and other 



