104 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



in contents of protein and total digestible nutrients. At the 

 North Dakota station this was found to be the best grass for 

 permanent pasture. It has the double merit of being palat- 

 able, and of being suited to semi-arid regions. 



Bermuda grass in the South is a standard pasture. This 

 plant grows a perfect network of roots near the surface, and 

 covers the ground as with a mat. It is a very nutritious 

 pasture plant, and has a most valuable place in southern 

 agriculture. It will stand heavy pasturing, and may be used 

 from March to November. If grown on rich soil, very heavy 

 cuttings of hay may be expected. Bermuda hay contains 

 over 4 per cent of digestible protein and about 43 per cent of 

 carbohydrates, excelling in protein any other common grass. 



Sudan grass is one of the new grasses of this country, 

 being introduced in 1909. It is a tall grass, having stems 

 of the size of a common lead pencil, and is related to the 

 cultivated sorghums. It is especially suited to the southern 

 states and irrigated regions of the Southwest. As an annual 

 grass it will grow in Kansas, but can not survive the winter 

 of the North. It seems destined to take the place of Johnson 

 grass in the vSouth, because it is fully as productive, and does 

 not have the root-spreading habit. In the far South four 

 cuttings of hay have been made in a season, yielding over 

 seven tons of hay per acre, and a record of nearly nine and 

 one half tons per acre is reported from Chico, California, 

 tliese heavy yields coming from irrigation. In feeding value 

 this plant ranks somewhat superior to timothy. 



Mixed grasses are frequently sown for pasture in the 

 northern states, timothy, redtop, orchard grass, and clover 

 forming the usual combination. Prairie grass is usually a 

 mixture, and somewhat resembles timothy in feeding value. 



THE CEREALS AS FORAGE 



Indian com is perhaps the most common cultivated plant 

 in American agriculture. Except on the arid lands, it thrives 



