1. i t 



T'N I ' 



11^ CAl.liM >m\nI.\ 



CHAPTER XII. 



FORAGE CROPS. 



In its widest sense, the term forage crops applies to all herba- 

 ceous plants which are used as food for domestic animals. Such 

 grasses, however, as are chiefly grown for hay, are so familiar 

 to all farmers, that in a book of the character of this they may 

 well give place to other matters about which information is now 

 more generally sought, and I shall confine my attention mainly to 

 such plants as are grown for green fodder, — whether for a com- 

 plete system of " soiling," or for an occasional feed where 

 pastures are not reliable. 



The great crops for these purposes in this country, are : Indian 

 Corn ; Sorghum, or Chinese Sugar-Cane j Clover ; Oats ; Rye j 

 and Millet. 



*' Sowed Corn " is familiar to all good farmers, and all who 

 have grown it under favorable circumstances, will concede that it 

 produces much more food on a given area than any other grass 

 that we have, unless it be its congener^ Chinese sugar-cane, or 

 sorghum. It has the drawback of not being very early, and of 

 not withstanding the early autumn frosts ; it must be planted late 

 enough to avoid the late frosts of spring, and it must be harvested 

 before the weather becomes severe in the fall. But, during the 

 intense heats of summer, it grows (on rich and well-drained land) 

 as nothing else will, affording, during August and September, a 

 most luxuriant supply of the very best food for all animals not 

 kept for work. Even swine will thrive on it as thev will on 

 hardly any thing else, and for milch cows it is unequaled by any 

 thing with which we are acquainted. 



