26 FORAGE CROPS. 



tions in which it can best be grown, as adapted to dif- 

 ferent localities, should be made the subject of care- 

 ful experiment in the near future. 



3. — It is at least possible that in the dry regions 

 of the northwest, east of the Rocky mountains, some 

 small varieties of corn, as, for instance, squaw corn, 

 may yet be grown to provide what may be termed 

 • finishing or fattening food for range sheep grown on 

 the adjacent lands. Squaw corn will mature any- 

 where within the area named. Although possessed 

 of a low, bantam-like habit of growth, it branches 

 out considerably, and produces much grain in pro- 

 portion to the stalk. It may be best grown on fall 

 plowed lands, managed in the spring with a view to 

 conserving moisture. It should then be sown with 

 the grain drill, care being taken to put the rows not 

 so distant as when planting larger varieties of corn, 

 and to give the crop proper cultivation. The sheep 

 should then be turned in upon it in a prudently cau- 

 tious manner at first, to graze it down and to fatten 

 upon it before the closing in of the winter. In the 

 absence of conclusive tests, judgment should not be 

 pronounced hastily as to the value of this theory, for 

 in practical agriculture we can never be quite sure of 

 the exact value of a reasonable theory until it has 

 been fairly tried. But it may be proper to mention 

 here, that experiments conducted at the Minnesota 

 University experiment farm, but not yet completed, 

 have proved decidedly encouraging in character. 



4. — The pasturing of corn stover yet standing 

 where it grew, is to be deprecated. Corn stover, as 

 is generally known, is corn from which the ears have 

 been removed. It is to be deprecated, because of the 

 wastefulness of the process. The stover dries so 



