142 FORAGE CROPS 
green forage until the ears have matured, as the 
tendency of the animals will be to eat the ears in 
preference to the other parts of the forage, and 
the master cows will appropriate an undue pro- 
portion and possibly be injured by an excessive 
supply, particularly if the forage is distributed in 
the field. For soiling, the forage should preferably 
be used before the grain has hardened. 
Composition and value of crop 
Corn in its best stage for green forage contains, 
on the average, and for all varieties, 20 per cent 
of dry matter. This dry matter is much richer in 
carbohydrates than wheat or rye forage. There- 
fore, so far as total nutriment is concerned, it is 
much superior to these crops, as well as to the 
millets, sorghums or kafir corn. That is to say, a 
larger proportion of feed in a succulent and 
digestible form is contained in a smaller amount 
of forage. Usually from forty-five to fifty pounds 
per day will supply the needs for roughage, as 
compared with fifty to seventy-five pounds of 
millet or either saccharine or non-saccharine sor- 
ghums. 
Corn can be utilized through a longer period 
than any other crop. Therefore, the plantings 
should be made at different times; and as any 
one seeding can be used for a period of fifteen to 
