314 The Feeding of Animals 



ous admixture of clover in. the hay, and the use of 

 more or less oats or peas in the grain ration. It 

 should not be forgotten that the plants used for for- 

 age crops are generally not harvested until they are 

 approaching maturity, and as the later growth of 

 most plants is largely due to the formation of non- 

 nitrogenous compounds, the hay and other fodders 

 stored for winter feeding are comparatively poor in 

 nitrogen compounds. On those farms where the hay 

 crop comes largely from the true grasses, like timothy 

 and red -top, and where the corn crop is a prominent 

 feature, a home-raised milk ration having a maximum 

 efficiency per unit of dry matter consumed is not pos- 

 sible. On the other hand, where alfalfa and clovers 

 constitute a good proportion of the hay, and where 

 generous areas of peas and oats are grown, a ration 

 compounded from home resources may have a high 

 milk -producing efficiency. 



It must be confessed, however, that most dairy farms 

 are lacking in a proper home-raised supply of the more 

 nitrogenous feeding stuffs, and as nearly all dairymen 

 depend to some extent upon purchased grain, it is a 

 quite prevalent custom for them to seek those by-prod- 

 ucts that will strengthen the protein side of the 

 ration, a course which they have been led to adopt 

 through the teachings of science. It is unquestionably 

 true that farmers should be more independent of the 

 markets, and they certainly may be if an intensive 

 system of cultivating well -selected crops is adopted; 

 but so long as more or less grain will certainly be 

 purchased, it is wise to consider the matter of select- 



