DIVISION OF FOODS AND FEEDING 



Joseph B. Lindsey.* 



SUMMER FORAGE CROPS. 



A. Pasturage and pasture grass. 



B. Desirable forage crops. 



C. Fertilizers for forage crops. 



I). Feeding forage crops for milk production. 

 E. Composition and digestibility of forage crops. 



In this bulletin it is intended to present a concise description of 

 those forage crops which are believed to be the most nutritious, 

 economical and best suited to the needs of Massachusetts farmers. 

 All of the fodders and fodder mixtures herein desciibed have been 

 grown upon the grounds of the station and fed to the station herd. 

 They have been frequently analyzed, and in most cases their diges- 

 tible ingredients determined. 



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A. PASTURAGE AND PASTURE GRASS. 



It is believed that whenever possible dairy animals should be pas- 

 tured during five months of the year. The open air, continuous 

 sunlight, and exercise resulting, are certainly most desirable and 

 beneficial after the long confinement of the late autumn and winter 

 months. The change from dry feed to the succulent grasses and 

 herbs is likewise advantageous and acts as a tonic to the entire 

 animal system. 



One reason why pasture grass is superior to the 

 Why pasture cereal fodders and grasses is that it contains pound 

 grassis supe- for pound more protein, the numerical relation of the 

 rior to most protein to the carbohydrates (nutritive ratio) being 

 forage crops, as 1 to 5. If the cereal fodders and grasses were 



cut when two or three inches high they would have 

 fully as much or even more protein than the mixed pasture herbage. 



•Assisted by E. B. Holland and P. H. Smith, Jr. 



