CHAPTER III 

 CHOICE OF FORAGE CROPS 



THE number of species of plants which the domesticated 

 animals or their wild ancestors devour for food is very 

 large. While comparatively few of these meet the needs 

 of profitable agriculture, yet over 100 species are more or 

 less utilized, while many others have been tested in an ex- 

 perimental way. There is thus presented to the agricul- 

 turist the problem of determining which of many possible 

 forage plants is the most satisfactory to grow under given 

 conditions. 



37. What determines the choice of a forage crop. 

 The extent to which a forage crop is grown in any par- 

 ticular region or for any particular purpose is correlated 

 with a number of considerations. Among these the follow- 

 ing are important : - 



1. Purpose for which grown; namely, hay, fodder, 

 silage or soiling. 



2. Adaptation to the conditions of climate, soil and 

 culture in rotations. 



3. Yield. 



4. Cost of seeding per acre. 



5. Ease of harvesting and curing. 



6. Time of harvesting. 



7. Feeding value. 



8. Demands or prejudices of the user. 



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