Green Forage Crops 267 



Millet 



The various kinds of millet are eminently surface 

 feeders, and are particularly benefited by liberal ap- 

 plications of all the fertility elements. In fact, maximum 

 forage crops of this plant cannot be obtained except when 

 there is present in the soil such an abundance of all of the 

 fertility elements as to enable a continuous and rapid 

 growth. Both the nitrogen and phosphoric acid should 

 be largely in immediately available forms ; hence nitrates 

 and superphosphates are recommended. The potash may 

 be in the form of muriate. A crop of ten tons to the 

 acre of millet forage, of any of the Japanese varieties, 

 which are very suitable for this purpose, will remove 50 

 pounds of nitrogen, 25 of phosphoric acid and 110 of 

 potash, practically all of which food is absorbed from the 

 immediate surface soil. Good crops frequently reach this 

 assumed yield ; hence, unless the land is in a high state 

 of fertility, or has been previously fertilized, it is neces- 

 sary, in order to obtain a fair crop, to furnish by direct 

 application at least one-half of the nitrogen and potash, 

 and as much phosphoric acid, as are contained in the crop. 

 These amounts and kinds of plant-food could be practically 

 supplied by a dressing of 450 pounds of a mixture made 

 up of 150 pounds of nitrate of soda, 200 of acid phos- 

 phate and 100 of muriate of potash, and such dressings 

 have given excellent satisfaction in the New Jersey experi- 

 ments with forage crops. 



Orchard-grass. 



Orchard-grass is among the earliest grasses that are 

 useful for soiling or for pasture. It possesses many 

 valuable characteristics, and is worthy of more careful 



