MAIZE AS AN EXAMPLE OF FORAGE CROP 3 



crop, for pasture, for hay or for silage; third, its 

 time of growth and season of maturity, as influ- 

 encing its usefulness at specific times; and fourth, 

 the nature of the plant, as having reference both 

 to its composition as a food and the influence that 

 its growth may exert on the fertility of the land. 



Indian corn, or maize, is very highly regarded 

 as a general forage crop, because it can be 

 grown successfully over a wide area. It is capable 

 of producing a large yield of nutritive substance, 

 highly digestible, very palatable, and relished by 

 all farm stock. It serves an excellent purpose as 

 a green forage for use in soiling; it can be so 

 grown as to furnish succulent food through a com- 

 paratively long period of the growing season ; it is 

 the best crop to supply succulent winter food in 

 the form of silage; it also serves as an excellent 

 source of both dried roughage and of concentrates 

 when ripened and handled in the usual way. It 

 therefore fulfils in a larger degree than any other 

 one plant the chief requirements of a forage crop. 

 Because of its vigorous habit and its season of 

 growth, it is capable of acquiring its food from 

 sources not so readily available to other plants; 

 therefore, good results can be secured on land that 

 would not be capable of producing crops more 

 dependent on immediately usable food supplies. 



Red clover is another example of a forage crop 

 that possesses valuable characteristics, It can be. 



