154 SILAGE CROPS. 



He states that "farmers who experience difficulty in making good 

 silage either cut the crops too green or else have improperly con- 

 structed silos." 



Sorghum, like corn, contains an excess of carbohydrates and is 

 somewhat deficient in protein. Its value is increased therefore by 

 the addition of some leguminous crop such as cow peas. 



Reports in the agricultural press indicate that many feeders 

 make a practice of combining their kafir, milo or sorghum in the 

 silo with corn, or with cow peas, field peas or other legume, 

 and with success. 



Further information regarding the sorghum crops for silage, 

 including the latest experiments along that line, will be found in 

 Chapter VIII., where silage crops for the Semi-Arid Regions are 

 discussed. 



Sorghum bagasse is the name given to the crushed stalk of 

 sorghum cane, and has been used with some success as silage. 

 In Prof. Henry's "Feeds and Feeding," he says: "The bagasse, or 

 waste, of the sorghum syrup factories, which has considerable 

 feeding value, should not be wasted, but may be satisfactorily 

 ensiled." Naturally, bagasse is a little dryer than most crops as 

 they are put into the silo, and the addition of water would greatly 

 assist in packing it tight enough together to keep out the air and 

 thus prevent spoiling. Corn may be mixed with the bagasse if 

 desired. As a safeguard against spoilage, the bagasse should be 

 siloed as soon as it comes from the mill and in considerable quan- 

 tity each day. 



Feterita is a comparatively new semi-arid crop that has abso- 

 lutely proved itself as an early maturing drouth-resistant feed. 

 Its superiority over any similar crop was conspicuous under the 

 severe conditions of 1914 throughout Oklahoma. It is generally 

 conceded to be almost exactly the equal of kafir corn and milo 

 maize in food value and in its proportion of various elements, and 

 since both of these crops make excellent silage it will doubtless 

 follow in the same class. A large number of silo owners in 

 Oklahoma and Texas are trying out this crop at the time this book 

 goes to press. 



Teosinte. This forage plant in tassel and appearance closely 

 resembles corn with no ear formed. Stock relish it and its food 

 value is high. It is very juicy and succulent and has been sue- 



