FODDEK CHOPS. 243 



and farm-yard manure yields excellent results with this crop, 

 especially in somewhat dry seasons, when the water-retaining 

 power of the organic matter of the manure is of great value. 

 In connection with the use of potash manures it is found that 

 the sulphate is preferable to the chloride, the latter tending to 

 injure the quality of the potatoes, rendering them waxy. A 

 similar preference for the sulphate exists in the case of beet. 



(3) FODDER CROPS. In these the seeds are of little im- 

 portance, the foliage and stems being the main parts. They 

 include gramineous (grasses), leguminous, and other plants. 



Meadow Hay. This crop consists of a very variable mix- 

 ture of different plants. The grasses are usually predominant 

 in quantity, and they, in general chemical properties, resemble 

 the cereals. Their ash is rich in silica and potash, but poor in 

 lime ; while in the organic portion they contain comparatively 

 little nitrogen, but are rich in carbohydrates. The roots of 

 grasses are mainly confined to the surface soil, so that applica- 

 tion of manure must be made if grass land is not to diminish in 

 fertility. Moreover, the root debris of grass land by its accu- 

 mulation, gradually produces a peaty or humic character in the 

 upper portion of the soil, with consequent nitrification and loss 

 of calcium. Hence manuring with bones, lime, or basic slag, 

 or other calcareous substances is generally advantageous. 



Liberal additions of nitrate of soda, potash salts, and phos- 

 phates produce very heavy crops of hay by encouraging the 

 growth of coarse grasses ; but clover and some of the finer 

 grasses are thereby diminished and the quality of the hay 

 deteriorates. 



Leguminous Crops, e.g., clovers, trefoil, lucerne, &c., are 

 also present in ordinary grass land, but in varying amount. 

 These fodder leguminous crops have the same general charac- 

 teristics as the leguminous grain crops. Their growth is 

 greatly favoured by additions of potash and lime compounds 

 and by stinting the nitrogenous manuring; the clovers, &c., 

 having an independent supply of nitrogen, are thus able to out- 

 grow their competitors, the grasses. As already stated, 



B 2 



