148 RURAL NEW YORK 



twice that of the other hay plants, 21/^ tons to the 

 acre, but 4 to G tons in three cuttings in a season is 

 not uncommon. 



Millet, or Hungarian grass, occupies a minor place 

 as a home forage plant. It is a summer crop often 

 put in where spring crops have failed. Its largest 

 acreage is in the dairy counties of Delaware, Che- 

 nango, Cortland and Madison. The average yield is 

 nearly a ton and a half to the acre. 



Orchard-grass is the most common and the most 

 widely distributed run-wild grass in the State. In 

 June, its vigorous upstanding stems may be seen 

 coming into bloom. Almost everywhere conditions 

 seem favorable to it. Seldom is it planted in the 

 regular grass mixture. Its tussock roots are vigorous 

 and long-lived. It grows well with alfalfa and some- 

 times is used in seeding that crop, to fill in wet places 

 unfavorable to the alfalfa. Cut at the same time as 

 alfalfa, the stems are soft and palatable and make 

 a good hay, but if left standing it soon becomes woody 

 and makes poor hay. 



In 1909 nearly 50,000 acres of grains were cut green 

 for forage. Doubtless it was mostly used for soiling 

 dairy cattle as there is an increasing tendency to use 

 this system, together with the summer silo, and 

 thereby reduce dependence on pasture. Pasture is a 

 poor means of producing forage economically and out- 

 side of the use of waste land, many farmers are elim- 

 inating it. Eye, wheat, barley and oats form a good 

 succession from early spring until corn is available. 



Eoots to the extent of 663 acres, probably beets, 



