FIELD CROPS FOR THE 

 COTTON-BELT 







CHAPTER I 

 CLASSIFICATION AND VALUE OF FIELD CROPS 



THE term " field crops," irr*its broadest sense, includes 

 all crops grown in cultivated fields under an extensive 

 system of culture. Horticultural crops may be defined 

 as those crops which are grown in relatively small areas 

 under systems of intensive culture. They are the fruits 

 and vegetables. There are some exceptions to this rule. 

 For example, sugar-beets and tobacco are field crops that 

 require intensive culture. On the other hand, fruits and 

 vegetables are frequently grown in large areas. 



No satisfactory classification of field crops has, as yet, 

 been made, on account of the new uses to which plants 

 are constantly being put and also because one crop may 

 be used for a variety of purposes. For convenience in 

 study and in describing methods of culture, field crops 

 have been grouped into several classes. 



1. Classification by use. According to use, crops are 

 commonly grouped as follows : 



Cereal or grain crops, as corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, 

 and rice. 



Forage crops, including the grasses and legumes cut 

 for hay, fodder, silage, or for feeding green. 



Legumes for seed, as beans, lentils, and peas. 



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