CHAPTER XIV 

 GREEN FORAGE CROPS 



A LARGE number of crops is included in this class. 

 In dairy districts they are grown for summer feeding, 

 mainly to supplement or to substitute pasturage entirely, 

 as well as to provide a succulent ration of roughage in 

 winter. Any crop which grows quickly, is palatable 

 and makes a reasonably large yield, is adapted for the 

 purpose. For convenience of study, these crops may be 

 further classified into four groups : 1. cereals and grasses ; 

 2. clovers and legumes; 3. cole crops or the cabbage 

 tribe ; 4. roots and tubers. 



CEREALS AND GRASSES 



In the case of those included in the first group, the 

 purpose or object is to obtain as large a growth of leaf 

 and stem as possible. Thus the character of the fertili- 

 zation may differ from that recommended when the same 

 crops are grown for the primary purpose of obtaining 

 the largest yield of seed or grain. These crops, too, 

 may in all cases be considered as only well adapted for 

 the " intensive " system of practice that is, when the 

 management is such as to encourage the largest yield 

 possible to the unit of area under the existing conditions 

 of climate and season. The natural fertility of the soil 

 thus becomes a less important factor; indeed it cannot 



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