1888.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 89 



of markets. Most of these fodder plants have an extensive 

 root system, and, for this reason, largely draw their plant- 

 food from the lower portion of the soil. The amount of 

 stubble and roots they leave behind after the crop has been 

 harvested is exceptionally large, and decidedly improves 

 both the physical and chemical condition of the soil. The 

 lands are consequently better fitted for the production of 

 shallow-growing crops, as grains, etc. Large productions 

 of fodder crops assist in the economical raising of general 

 farm crops ; although the area devoted to the cultivation of 

 the latter is reduced, the total yield of the land is usually 

 more satisfactory. 



One of the foremost experts in stock-feeding, Julius 

 Kiihn of Halle, Germany, expressed the whole question 

 in the following terse manner : ' ' Much fodder, — much 

 manure, large crops and more money in the end." 



Each farmer ought to make his selection, from amonsr the 

 various fodder plants, to suit his individual resources and 

 wants ; yet, adopting this rule as his guide, he ought to make 

 his selection on the basis that the crop which is capable of 

 producing, for the same area, the largest quantity of nitro- 

 gen — containing food constituents, at the least cost, is, as 

 a rule, the most valuable one for him. 



Our prominent fodder plants may be classified, in regard 

 to the relative proportion of their nitrogenous organic food 

 constituents to their non-nitrogenous organic food con- 

 stituents (nutritive ratio), in the following order : — 



1. Leguminous plants, clover, vetch, etc., . . . 1 :2.2 to 1:4.5 



2. Grasses, 1 :5.0 to 1 :8.0 



3. Green corn, roots and tubers, 1 :6.0 to 1 :15.0 



The value of an article of fodder may be stated from two 

 different stand-points, — that is, with reference to its cost in 

 the local market, and with reference to its nutritive feeding 

 value.* The market price may be expressed by a definite 

 sum for each locality ; it depends on demand and supply in 

 the market, and it is beyond the control of the individual 

 farmer. The nutritive value, or, commonly called, food 



* For details regarding estimation of nutritive ratio, see article on " Fodder and 

 Fodder Analysis," Page 31-37, Fourth Annual Report. 



