Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-07-05
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FlEERsN1 GRRDEN
succuLENT FORAGE.


Importance of Leguminous Crops
and Temporary Pastures.
Just as 1t must be generally admitted
that a system Of diversified farming is
preferable for the country at large so it
must be agreed that succulent forage
crops may be made to form very i'm
portant part in the rotations to be fol-
lowed in practicing such a system, re-
marks 7. A. Williams. In discussing
the use of succulent forage he says:
These crops can usually be grown in
such a manner as not only not to in
terfere In any way with the regular
yields Of grain or other primary crops,
but even to the great advantage of the
latter on account of the direct benef-
cial effect which they may exert on the
fertility of the soil. This is especially
true of such leguminous crops as vetch-
es, cowpeas and crimson clover.
A strong point in the favor Of grow
ing crops for succulent forage lies in
the fact that an increased number of
stock may be maintained on a given
amount of land and that the dairy
products may be very materially aug
mented both on account of the posi-
bility of handling relatively larger
numbers Of milk cows and also of the
greater returns that may be secured
from each animal. This is of special
significance In the older, more thickly
settled portions of the country, as is
also the fact that the keeping of this
increased number of stock insures
more manure for the land. This last
Is In itself an item of great Importance
in the maintenance of the fertility of
the farm and, taken in connection with
the direct beneficial effects upon the
soil of many of the crops grown for
soiling and ensiling, is a most substan-
tial argument in favor of giving these
crops a regular place in plans of crop
rotations.
Another point In favor of the grow
ing of these supplementary forage
crops is the fact that the general
health of farm stock may be kept liz
better condition. especially in winter,
Ivy the judicious use of succulent for
age, which serves as an appetizer and
promotes the digestion.
Too little place is given to temporary
pastures on the average American
farm, but one effect of the recent pc
RODS of drought has been to turn at
tention more strongly to this method
of producing forage. Often it is much
more profitable to furnish stock with
succulent food In this way than by
soiling, the extra labor and expense of
cutting the crop and hauling or carry,
ing 1t to the feeding place being saved.
1t is not always possible to keep sufi-
Client help on the farm to attend to the
work Of soiling properly, but by the
use Of the temporary or annual pasture
the stock may be supplied with the de-
sired feed and the permanent pastures
brought safely through droughty
season because of the lessened drain
on their resources. True, this may
not be the most economical manner of
feeding succulent forage. owing to the
waste from the trampling of the ami
mails, but 1t is much better than keep
ing the stock ON overgrazed pastures
both as regards the condition of the
animals and the future productiveness
of the pastures.
In certain parts of the country, nota-
bly, In the middle west and some sec
tons Of the south, this practice of SOW
ing supplementary pastures has be
come much more common than former
ly, partly because Of the effect Of
drought on the yields of forage from
the permanent meadows and pastures
and partly through the increased de
mand for succulent feed arising from
the growing interest in dairying and
the increase of stock on farms hereto
fore largely devoted to the raising OF
cotton and grain.
In the main the crops that are grown
for soiling can be also used Ia these
supplementary pastures, but there are
certain varieties which are best adapt
ed for this purpose. Among such may
be mentioned rye, turf oats. sorghum
rape, vetches, field peas, miIlet, beg
gar weed and bur clover.