CROPS 117 



Average Composition of Carrots and Parsnips. 



Class III.— Fodder Crops. 



These, which include some of the crops already mentioned, 

 are grown to provide bulky food for cattle. They are used in 

 three principal forms : 



1. In the fresh, green state, being either pastured or 



cut, and fed green to animals — " soiling" 



2. In the dried (and generally fermented) state, as hay. 



3. In the fermented state, as ensilage. 



In the case of all forage crops it is desirable to cut or use 

 the plant some time before it ripens its seed, otherwise the 

 Btems and leaves become woody and indigestible, and^ a great 

 extent robbed of their nutriment. 



The principal forage crops may be classed in three main 

 groups : 



1. Gramineous crops. 



2. Leguminous crops. 



3. Miscellaneous forage crops, 



1. Gramineous Crops. — These are used for pasturing, and 

 fo^ hay-making or for soiling. Some of the cereals already 

 described are used in this way. 



Pasture and meadow grasses usually consist of a complex 



