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FORAGE CROPS 



* 







SOY BEANS. 

 Natural size. 



the wise dairyman pre- 

 pares for such variation 

 by growing a series of 

 different soiling crops. 

 Oats, corn, cow peas, 

 soy beans, clover, vetch 

 are all suitable ; and two 

 or three of them may be 

 planted in such order as 

 to provide green forage 

 through the dry period. 

 Millet is often sown for 

 this purpose in May, and 

 is ready to use for soil- 

 ing in six weeks. Rye, 



planted in the fall, may be used the following summer 



even earlier than millet. When any 



part of these crops is not needed 



for soiling, it can always be cured 



for hay, or, if a grain crop, it may 



be allowed to mature for harvest. 

 212. Silage Fresh forage is 



better than dry for producing both 



milk and beef. Soiling crops, we 



have seen, provide fresh forage 



during the grass-growing season. 



Silage provides it during the rest of 



the year ; and even for July and 



August a summer silo on many farms 



now takes the place of soiling. 

 A green crop is made into silage 



by being cut fine and then packed 



away in a "silo." Silos are built 



of wood staves, of brick, of cement, BUILDING A CHEAP SILO. 



