636 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ON FODDER SUPPLY, AND AJ^ALYSES 

 OF FODDER ARTICLES. 



On Fodder Supply. 



The practice of raising a greater variety of valuable crops 

 for green fodder deserves the serious consideration of farm- 

 ers engaged in the dairy business, for it secures a liberal 

 supply of healthy, nutritious fodder, at a time when hay 

 becomes scarce and costly, and when it would be still a 

 wasteful practice to feed an imperfectly matured green fod- 

 der corn. The frequently limited area of land fit for a 

 remunerative production of grasses, and the not less recog- 

 nized exhausted condition of a large proportion of natural 

 pastures, makes it but judicious to consider seriously the 

 means which promise, not only to increase, but also to 

 cheapen, the products of the dairy. 



. A liberal introduction of reputed forage crops into farm 

 operations has, ever^'-where in various directions, promoted 

 the success of agricultural industry. The desirability of in- 

 troducing a greater variety of fodder plants into our farm 

 management is generally conceded. In choosing plants for 

 that purpose, it seems advisable to select crops which would 

 advantageously supplement our leading fodder crop (aside 

 from the products of pastures and meadows), — the fodder 

 corn and corn stover. 



Taking this view of the question, the great and valuable 

 family of leguminous plants, as clovers, vetches, lucerne, 

 serradella, peas, beans, lupines, etc., is, in a particular de- 

 gree, well qualified for that purpose. They deserve also a 

 decided recommendation in the interest of a wider range 

 for the introduction of economical systems of rotations, 

 under various conditions of soil, and different requirements 



