The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-10-26
SECONDARY CROPS.
Furnishing Forage For Late Au-
tumn, Winter and Early Spring.

Furnishing Forage For Lnte Au-
tumn, Winter and Early Spring.
1t IS difficult matter to bring the
permanent meadows and pastures 10
such a stage of perfection that they
will afford a sufficient supply of fresh
feed throughout the entire season.
Usually there are one or more periods
during the year when the supply is
limited and during which the perma-
nent grass lands may be much injured
by continuous use. These periods gen
orally occur in the early spring, mid
summer, and late autumn. Again, the
primary crops, either of grass or grain,
may be injured severely, or destroyed
entirely, by uufavorable climatic con
ditions or by insect or fungous pests.
Under such conditions serious financial
loss may be avoided by growing sup
Elementary or secondary forage crops.
If the crop is desired for use the same
season. quick growing ANNALS should
be sown; if for winter and early
spring. biennials or the so called win
ter ANNALS"
There are few large farms in any
section Of the country, devoted to mix
ed farming and stock raising upon
which land could not he advantageous
~ sown to such supplementary crops.
Usually the land can be used a portion
of the season for producing some pri-
mary crop, in which case the supple
mentary crop IS clear gain Often in
stead Of allowing the land TO lie fallow
for the entire season, rs is the practice
In some sections. it can be utilized TO
grow these forage crops and also be
brought into good condition for the
grain or ether primary crop.
There are 4 large number of annual
and biennial crops adapted to use rs
supplementary forage For spring seed
Ing the ANIMALS are perhaps most often
used. although some bicnnials are also
valuable, particularly for late summer
and autumn feed. The various varic-
ties of fodder corn, sorghum doth sac
charm and nonsacchariul, field peas,
oats. barley. soy beans vctchcs and
rape may be successfully grown in the
these same crops, with the addition OF
the cowpea. Florida bcggar weed and
velvet bean. are available On alkali
soils the Australian saltbush can often
be grown to advantage These crops
will all afford forage that can be used
during some portion Of the summer
and early autumn for frestl food for
stock. either as pasturage or for soil
ing.
When it Is desired to have forage
throughout the autumn months, many
of the crops mentioned above can be
utilized, sowing the seed in late sum
mer or early autumn. As n rule 1t will
be best to use the early or medium
early sorts for this purpose. There are
varieties of millet, corn. sorghum and
Soy beans that are adapted to use in
the different sections of the country.
Rape can sometimes be used for this
purpose. and there is a large variety Of
root crops that do well planted at this
season of the year.
The list of fall crops suitable for late
fall winter and spring forage affords
opportunity for the selection of varic-
ties suited to almost any section of the
country. In the north winter rye is
perhaps the most valuable crop, while
winter wheat may also be utilized, and
rape, root crops and hairy vetch fur
nish excellent food for stock until the
appearance of heavy freezing weather.
In the south rescue grass, hairy vetch,
crimson clover, turf or winter oats, rye
and Egyptian clover make good list
from which to select varieties suitable
not only for forage, but also for use as
cover crops for increasing the fertility
of the land. But clover may be sown
also at this season for early spring
pasturage.
1t must be remembered In connection
with the cultivation of these supple
mentary forage crops, and more es-
peclally with reference to the legumi-
nous varieties that even in case 1t does
not become necessary to use them for
forage, they will more than pay for the
trouble and expense in growing them,
through their manurial value to the
land upon which they are grown.-T.
A. Williams,