The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-13
GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS.

The Great Importance Relatively of
Grass. Forage, Fodder and Root
Crops.
The increasing interest in diversified farm
ing has made necessary a reliable text
book on grasses, forage, fodder and root
plants adapted to the conditions of the
Northwest
Prof. Shaw says of the book: ut was
written for the publishers at their request
and with the sanction and approval of the
agricultural committee of the board of re-
gents of the state of Minnesota 1t is in
tended to supply in some degree the dearth
of practical literature on the subjects of
which it treats. In writing it, the chief aim
was to render it helpful to the farmers of
this republic, and more especially to those
located in the newer sections thereof, where
experience in growing many valuable farm
products is yet very limited and in
some instances entirely wanting
1t is unnecessary to say to the farmer
who has had no experience in other than
single crop farming. this book will be worth
in a single season many times it's cost. 1t
contains 100 pages, is carefully indexed,
and covers the entire range of forage fod-
der and roots.
We quote from the first chapter SUFFICIENT
to indicate the valuable character of the
book. 1t is sold by the publishers for the
low price of 80 cents, or given as a premi-
UNI with the purchase of s. to s. worth of
seed.
important crop by far that mother earth
produces. No other crop is so necessary
to the sustenance of the various forms of
animal life, is there any which covers
so large an area. Even in rich arabic
sections distinguished for growing cereals
there is usually a larger area devoted to
grass than to any other variety of crop
And here it may be mentioned that the term
grass is meant to include all the varieties
of clover.
In no other way can soil fertility and
soil moisture be so easily maintained as
by growing grass in one or the other of it's
various forms, and in no other way can the
comparative density of the soil be kept so
perfectly in equilibrium. 1t follows there
fore. that more attention should be given
relatively to the growing of grasses than
to the growing of other crops.
But there are special reasons why the
grass crop should receive careful attention
at the hands of the farmers in that section
or the United States and Canada usually
spoken of as the Northwest These grow
out of the comparative dryness of the eli
mate in that region, the relatively small
yields furnished by the upland native prai-
RE, the dry, woody character of the grasses
which grow upon it the whole of the au-
tumn, the muhc larger yields that will be
obtained from certain varieties of the Gull
uvated grasses, and the greater power
"hlcn some OF these possess to crowd out
nearly all forms of noxious weed life
Wnle 1t Is We'll to recognize the fact
that some kinds of grass will always grow
more shyly and less luxuriantlv in tho
Northwest than in a more humid climate
II should be remembered that many kinds
OF grass can be introduced with great adj
vantage in addition to those now grown.
1nese varieties will be mentioned in a
subsequent chapter. In the meantime ev-
cry farmer should be testing for himself
to ascertain which kinds will pest suit
his soil and climate. He should introduce
them at first with prudent caution until
ne mas satisfied himself that they have
staying qualities This once assured. they
may be grown to any extent desired
FORAGE CROPS
The term includes such crops as are
grown for pasture or for summer feeding
in addition to the grasses proper as, for
instance, rye eaten off fall and spring,
rape eaten off when desired, and mixed
grains e:'own and cut and fed while vet