10 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



as indeed any method that might be employed, is more or 

 less general and several irregularities occur in it. Thus 

 the grain crops are usually grown for their grain, but 

 frequently the straw is used for forage, and sometimes the 

 entire plant is so used. Sometimes, too, a crop may be 

 grown for one purpose in one place, and for another use 

 in another locality. Thus flax, which has been grouped 

 with the fiber crops, is grown in some places entirely for 

 its seeds, in which case it should, perhaps, be grouped 

 with the grain crops. The millets are likewise, in some 

 countries, grown primarily for their seed, but in this 

 country they are generally used for forage. In a general 

 way, however, the grouping here followed will indicate 

 the most common usage of the crops, but mention will 

 usually be made of any other uses to which they may be 

 put. The relative importance of the various crops is 

 shown in the diagram. 



13. The grain crops. — Grain crops are crops that 

 are grown primarily for their seed or grain. This term 

 is more inclusive than the term " cereals," which is defined 

 as any grass grown for its edible grain. The term grain 

 crops is used to include all crops grown for their grains, 

 regardless of their botanical relationship. The cereals, 

 however, are by far the most important grain crops, 

 and if it were not for the cereals, this group would have a 

 small membership and a rank of little consequence, instead 

 of being, as it now is, the most valuable and useful group 

 of field crops. 



14. The forage crops. — Forage crops are those 

 crops grown primarily for forage, which may be defined 

 as roughage or bulky feed for domestic animals. The 

 forage crops have great bulk and low feeding value per 

 unit of weight as compared with the grain crops. Forage 



