STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 753 



graze quite ciose. They are housed during severe weather and 

 at night on boarded floors, and turned on the pastures during the 

 day through winter in fine weather. 



To tliese frequent cuttings of my meadows, and close grazing 

 of my pastures, I am in some degree indebted for the excellent 

 quality of their produce. 



My successful use of rape-cake as food, has caused my atten- 

 tion to be given to the cultivation of the green rape plant for 

 fodder, of which I produce two crops during the year. The 

 sowing for one is made towards the close of June or early in 

 July, after early potatoes, or on other vacant ground, enriched 

 with the fresh excrement from my cattle. The produce from 

 this sowing is cut towards the close of September, in October, 

 and early in November. To ascertain the quantity, I measured 

 out 400 square yards, which was cut in dry weather; the produce 

 was upwards of IJ ton, being more than 16 tons per acre. This 

 cutting was made before the crop had attained its full growth. 

 The average over the whole would be more. 



Towards the close of July or early in August I sow rape in a 

 seed-bed, for which I use the headlands of crops which are horse- 

 hoed. These plants are taken from the seed-bed and planted after 

 lifting the potatoes in September or October, and produce a crop 

 during the early part of May. Though the operation of planting 

 out is somewhat tedious, yet the produce being available at a time 

 when green food is scarce, I find its cultivation remunerative. 

 My produce this season is equal to about 7 to 8 tons per acre. 

 This spring crop is cut in time to be followed by cabbage and 

 kohl-rabi. 



The properties of green rape as food for sheep are well known. 

 In Morton's Cyclopsedia I find a complete analysis, showing it to 

 be rich in tlesh and fat forming constituents. Dr. Voelcker cha- 

 racterises it as richer in fatty matter than any other green crop 

 used for food. During the month of October and early in Novem- 

 ber I give it both to my milk and fattening cows : they devour it 

 with relish. I have as yet found no green crop equal to green 

 rape at that season of the year. 



In cultivating the cabl^age and kohl-rabi,I find it advantageous 

 to plant them in rows of 4 ft. to 4 ft. 6 in. aj)art, with ]>otatoes 



[Ac. Thans.J Vv 



