CHAPTER XVII 



THE PRODUCTION OF CATTLE FOODS 



The farmer, in deciding what forage and grain 

 crops lie shall grow, should take into consideration 

 several factors, of which the following are the main 

 ones: (1) the adaptability of the various crops to the 

 soil and climate; (2) the adaptability of the various 

 crops to the kind of business which is to be followed, 

 whether dairying, stock- growing or sheep husbandry; 

 (3) the capacity of the various crops for the produc- 

 tion of digestible food; (4) the protein supply; (5) 

 the maintenance of fertility. 



1. Concerning the adaptability of crops to the great 

 variation of soil and climate in this countr^^ it is not 

 possible to treat extensively in this connection without 

 going too fully into questions of agricultural botany. 

 There are, however, a few general facts worthy of men- 

 tion. In the first place, few farmers have accurate 

 information concerning the species of grasses which 

 are growing on their farms. Only occasionally is one 

 found who carefully observes what species are most 

 prosperous under his conditions. This is equivalent 

 to the statement that but little attention is given to 

 the matter of the adaptability of forage plants to the 

 environment under which they must be grown. While 



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