10 FORAGE CROPS. 



kinds produce several stalks and bear a number of 

 ears. Some kinds produce but few leaves and much 

 grain, other varieties grow many leaves and but little 

 grain. Some are sweet, others much less so. Some 

 are flint and some are dent, and others are hybrid, as 

 it were, between these. Some kinds mature under 

 ninety days, other varieties require many months to 

 complete their growth. Various other distinctions 

 appertain to the multi-form varieties of this food 

 product. Verily, their name is legion. 



At one time corn was grown chiefly for the 

 grain product, but it is now grown more and more 

 to provide soiling food and fodder. It is not improb- 

 able that, ere many years shall pass, the area of corn 

 fed green and in the cured form unhusked, will much 

 exceed the area that will be husked. Notwithstand- 

 ing the rapid increase in the growing of corn for soil- 

 ing, for ensilage and for fodder to be fed in the 

 autumn and winter, the idea of growing corn for 

 pasture does not seem to have made an impression 

 on the mind of the corn growers of this country. 

 When the author sought information on this point, 

 in 1894, prior to taking up the work of experiment- 

 ing in growing corn for sheep pasture, none could be 

 found. It may be that the search was too narrow 

 and restricted, but the fact stated will make it clear 

 that at that time information on the point at issue 

 was not plentiful. It is of this particular feature of 

 corn production that the present chapter will treat. 

 A view of sheep pasturing on first growth of corn 

 and rape at the Minnesota University experiment 

 farm is seen in Fig. 2. 



While it is more than probable that corn will 

 never become generally popular as a pasture for 



