teiu than the non-legumes. Among the most important non-legumi- 

 nous forage plants may be mentioned wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, 

 millet, and the grasses usually grown for hay. The most desirable 

 legumes are vetches, peas, soy beans and clovers. The vetch closely 

 resembles the pea in its habit of growth and general appearance ; it 

 has, however, finer stems and leaves. There are two species used 

 for fodder purposes, the spring vetch (Vicia sativa), and the winter 

 or sand vetch (Vicia villosa). The vetches and peas are chiefly use- 

 ful for green forage, to be grown together with the cereal fodders. 

 The latter plants furnish a desirable support. 



There are several varieties of soy beaus, but the medium green 

 variety is to be preferred. Its chief value is as a green forage crop. 

 Farmers using these legumes for fodder purposes can if they desire 

 grow their own seed. 



In describing the various fodders and fodder mix- 

 Order to be tures, those available in the late spring will be first 

 followed in mentioned, and the description will then, continue of 

 the descrip- those best suited for the summer and autumn months, 

 tion. Following the general description, a table will be 



found in which an attempt has been made to bring 

 together in concise form the most important data, such as time of 

 sowing, seed to the acre, area to be sown, etc. 



This mixture of a non-legume and a legume promises 



Wheat and to be a very desirable spring green fodder. It has 



winter (sand) been planted for two years, and a third planting 



vetch. looked exceedingly well last autumn. The first 



planting — made in the late summer of 1898 — winter 

 killed, owing in all probability to the fact that the seed was sown too 

 early (August 1). The second year, 1899, the seeding took 

 place August 25, and an excellent yield was secured the following 

 spring. One and one-half bushels of wheat and one bushel of vetch 

 were sown to the acre at one sowing, and covered with a wheel harrow. 

 Cutting was begun May 31 just before the wheat began to head. 

 The vetch began to blossom June 5. The yield was at the rate of 

 10 tons of green fodder to the acre, and cutting was continued for 

 twelve days. The spring of 1900 was fully 10 days backward, and 

 the rainfall quite deficient. Had the weather been as warm as usual 

 and the precipitation normal, cutting would have begun earlier. If 

 more of the fodder mixture has been produced than can be fed green 

 the balance may be made into hay. The cost of the vetch seed is 



