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FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRICULTURE. 



cattle are allowed to graze. Such fields are usually 

 planted in perennial grasses and legumes, so that they 

 are productive for at least two or three years. Good 

 pastures are a very useful adjunct to the farm, because 

 animals can be fed much more cheaply in this way than 

 in any other. 



Hay is any forage crop after it is cut and cured or 

 dried for feed. When the plant dried is very coarse, 

 for example, corn, the hay is commonly called fodder, 

 Grasses are more frequently used for hay than any 

 other plants, because they cure or dry readily. More 



HUNGARIAN, OR AWN- RED TOP, OR HERD S TALL MEADOW OAT 

 LESS BROME GRASS. GRASS. GRASS. 



succulent plants, like cowpeas, are also grown for 

 hay, but they are difficult to cure unless the weather is 

 very favorable. Where perennial grasses are grown 

 for hay, the field is often retained for two or more 

 years. Such fields are termed meadows. It is not 

 an uncommon practice to utilize the same field both as 

 a meadow for hay and after the hay crop is removed 

 to use it as a pasture. 



Classes of Forage Crops. About fifty different 

 kinds of plants are cultivated in the United States pri- 

 marily for forage purposes. Most of these belong 



