No. 4.] SUPPLEMENTING THE HAY CROP. 385 



Hungarian Grass and the Millets. 



Of the animal crops adapted for hay, probably the Hun- 

 crarian g^rass and the various kinds of millets are the best. 

 The Hungarian grass makes a lighter and finer growth 

 than the millets, and is to be preferred for hay ; while the 

 millets are better if green fodder is wanted. Hungarian 

 grass tends to send up its blossom heads at an earlier stage 

 of growth when sown late, and a shorter and lighter growth 

 will usually be obtained if the seeding is deferred until after 

 July 1. This can be overcome, in part, by having a well- 

 fertilized or well-manured soil, with plenty of quick-acting 

 nitrogen. Hungarian grass should always be cut early, even 

 before all the heads are full}^ formed, as it rapidly becomes 

 tough and woody after it i)asses the early blossoming stage. 

 Of the millets, the Japanese and the golden millets are prob- 

 ably the best. These may be grown for hay, but make 

 a rather coarse fodder. They should be grown on rich soil, 

 and be seeded at the rate of not less than l/o bushel per acre. 

 When grown thickly and cut l)efore the heads are fully 

 formed, the millets will make a fairly good grade of hay. 

 Most dairymen, however, find them more valuable for green 

 fodder than for hay. Even when used for green fodder, 

 thick seeding and early cutting are desirable, in order to 

 avoid the stems becoming woody, so that stock does not eat 

 the fodder readily. 



Soy Beans. 



Soy bean fodder is a crop which has been strongly recom- 

 mended for growing in New England, and it is worthy of 

 careful trial. The Avriter has had fifteen years' experience 

 with this crop in Connecticut, and has seldom had a failure. 

 In years when corn can be grown to maturity, this crop will 

 usually ripen its seed. If wanted for its seed, it should, of 

 course, be sown early, not later than June 15 ; but for feed- 

 ing green or for silage it may be sown as late as July 10. 

 As this is a bean-like plant, it should be sown in drills and 

 cultivated, and never be sown broadcast unless wanted for 

 green manuring. One bushel of seed per acre has been 

 found to be a good rate of seeding when growing the crop 



