Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-05-12
Forage Crops.

\ correspondent desires information
concerning forage crops. This term has
a broad signifcation, but in this article
we will speak only of those catch
crops, so called, which are so commonly
and extensively raised to be used in place
of the ordinary hay crop thus adding
greatly To the stock carrying capacity OF
the farm. There are many such crops,
and the number is constantly on the
increase. We can only speak of those
most commonly raised.
One of the most nutritious feeds we
have ever used is pea and Oat hay. The
land should be in good condition. AS
early as it is suitable to be worked in
the spring the peas should be sowr
broadcast, at the rate of one bushel tC
the acre, and should be covered four to
five inches deep. Canada field peas are
often used. but +. w. Willis, who has
had a long experience in this line OF
work, says the black eyed pea is very
much better for this purpose, being
more sure of a crop. About five days
after the peas are sown about two bush
els of oats per acre should be sown and
carefully narrowed in. They should be
cut when in the milk, and not allowed
10 get too ripe. The best way is TO cure
after the fashion of curing clover. Farm
erS really ought to have caps for use in
curing clover, and such other crops rs
need TO stand some time in the bunch.
When it can be cured without getting
wet it makes the very incest of hay for
milch cows. and is highly nitrogenous.
Two and One-half To three tons to the
acre is fair crop. Oats are often sown
alone, to be cut for hay, for which they
are well suited, yet they are not nearly
so valuable as when mixed with peas.
Hungarian is a common crop, and IS
quite useful in its place. 1t should not
be Sown until danger of frost is past.
To secure good crop the land must be
we'll fertilized. 1t should be cut as the
plant is coming into blossom.
Barley is another grain that makes an
excellent feed, and under certain circum-
stances has a special value. The soil needs
To be well fertilized and in fine tilth.
We SOW about two bushels of seed to the
acre. Ii is best cut and fed in the green
state. II is especially valuable TO be
used as a green feed, the latter part of
some seasons. For this purpose it should
be Sown the latter part of July, or the
very earliest days in August. You may
begin To cut it rs soon as 1t is fully
bearded. One season we finished cut
tin" the 10th of November in the midst
of a severe snow storm. We put several
loads of il on the top of the corn in the
Silo, and fed it out after few days, it
lasting until the fifth of January. 1t
makes excellent enSilage.
Winter rye Sown in the latter part OF
August on good soil at the rate of one
buShel To the acre, will produce good
feed for a few days in early spring, before
cows can ordinarily get much in the
pasture. Ii should be cut before 1T be
comes coarse and woody, usually the
latter part of May.
The great forage crop of the state of
Maine is corn. There is nothing that
can fill it's place. There are few If any
crops that produce So much per acre and
there is no crop that can Oe served up IN
so palatable a manner rs can corn, dur
ing every day in the year. No dairyman
can afford To be without silo, and he
should raise every acre of corn possible,
with which he may till it,
Farmers living in the vicinity of can
ming factory can do well raising sweet
corn. All the stover, including the
husks and cobS. should be carefully pre-
served in the Silo. Those living at dis
tauce from the factory will do well to
plant yellow corn on well fertilized soil.
and put the produce, corn and all, into
the silo. 1t makes a rich feed when
balanced with the proper grain ration,
and is absolutely indispensable to the
dairymen in an economic point of view.
Columns might be written about this
plant, the king of forage crops.
Before leaving this subject we want
to say a word for second crop clover.
There is nothing ahead of it for feed for
the dairy COW. 1t produces the finest
quality of milk and butter. There is
hardly any other plant equal to 1t In
producing a large flow of milk. Many
sections of the state produce clover In
abundance. and it will yield two good
crops, provided the land has been proper
lv fertilized. The second crop is usual
ly ready for cutting at time OF the
wear when the feed of the pasture has
become much diminished both in quality
and quantity. More clover should be
raised. More corn and clover should be
the motto of the dairymen.