GRASS-CROP AREAS 87 



The leading alfalfa states are all west of the Missouri 

 River, although it is note-worthy that the state of first 

 rank, Kansas, lies on the eastern border of the region. 

 With the exception of Tennessee, the leading millet 

 states lie between the Mississippi River and the Rocky- 

 Mountains. 



The states leading in the production of forage classi- 

 fied as "other tame or cultivated grasses" are those of 

 the New England division, together with the adjacent 

 state of New York, and the more remote states of Minne- 

 sota, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas. In the north- 

 eastern states the most important element is redtop. In 

 Texas, as in other southern states, Johnson-grass is an 

 important factor. In Tennessee and Kentucky orchard- 

 grass is an important forage plant. The states leading in 

 the production of wild hay, with the exception of Wis- 

 consin, lie in the Great Plains region where the bulk of 

 the product is made up of mixed prairie grasses. In Wis- 

 consin an important factor is blue-joint (Calamagrostis 

 canadensis). 



Most of the elements in the classification of hay and 

 forage represent summer-grown crops. The category 

 referred to as * 'grains cut green" assumes importance in 

 two regions, the Pacific coast and the southern states. In 

 the first region the best conditions for grain-growing 

 obtain in the winter season, during which the greatest 

 rainfall of the year occurs. Because of these conditions 

 hay made from grain is the most available forage. In the 

 second region cowpea hay is an important crop. Canada 

 field pea, an important crop along our northern border, 

 is included in the figures for ''grains cut green." Under 

 the last heading, "coarse forage," are included com and 

 sorghum cut for forage. 



