GENERAL REMARKS ON FORAGE GRASSES 23 



shoes are placed upon the horses' feet to prevent them 

 from sinking into the soft soil during the mowing. The 

 most important grasses of these marshes are a kind of 

 bluejoint (different from the bluestem of the prairies), 

 and reed canary grass. 



The third kind of wild hay is derived from salt marshes. 

 Vast areas of salt marsh are found along the seacoast of 

 the United States, especially that of the North Atlantic. 

 The hay derived from salt marsh is usually of poor 

 quality for forage but is utilized extensively for packing 

 and stable litter. 



Grain Hay 



The small grains are well adapted to the production of 

 hay and are used for this purpose whenever the value of 

 the hay exceeds the value of the grain or when conditions 

 justify the sacrifice of the grain. From the commercial 

 standpoint, grain hay attains prime importance only on 

 the Pacific Coast and portions of the area lying to the 

 eastward. The lack of other sources of grass hay in this 

 region has led to the utilization of grain. Besides the 

 hay that is produced from wheat, barley, and oats, a not 

 inconsiderable amount is derived from volunteer crops of 

 wild oats. 



Legume Hay 



Although this volume is concerned primarily with the 

 grasses, a few words will not be out of place regarding 

 hay derived from leguminous plants. The most im- 

 portant hay plant of the west is alfalfa. And its im- 

 portance is on the increase in the eastern United States. 

 Next in importance of the legumes in the hay market is 



