FORAGE CROPS IN NEW ENGLAND. 153 



the pasture. No other fences are now maintained, either 

 across or around the tiUage land, although it is hounded on 

 two sides by the public highway. 



The heavy work of clearing and draining being finished, 

 a pair of horses were able to do the work which formerly 

 required four oxen and a horse ; and, as tlie butter-market 

 improved, the dairy has been increased, till the milch cows 

 now number from fifteen to seventeen. Finding it often dif- 

 ficult to purchase good cows, breeding them was commenced 

 some ten years ago ; since which time the farm has carried, 

 besides its quota of mature cows, a constant relay of young 

 animals, from which to draw as the older ones went- to the 

 butcher. For the past few years the farm has carried from 

 twenty-five to thirty hay and grass eating animals, less than 

 ten per cent of them being under a year old. 



During the past two years there has been a few tons of 

 hay sold, but none bought. Previously, while the stock was 

 being annually increased, hay was sometimes purchased. 



For many years it was my aim to feed chiefly the very 

 best early-cut hay and rowen that I could grow, both winter 

 and summer ; though green corn was grown and fed freely 

 during some two months in summer. 



As much grain was also purchased and fed, both in winter 

 and summer, as was considered safe to feed, and maintain 

 sound health in the herd. 



This system brought excellent results in the way of rich 

 milk ; but the milk cost too much, while, in unfavorable 

 seasons for the growth of grass upon dry hillsides, it was 

 found necessary to purchase hay to an extent that left little 

 margin for profit. 



Latterl}^ an entirely different system has been introduced 

 and adopted. 



Each year, during the months of September and October, 

 as large a field is sown with winter rye, at the rate of from 

 one and a half to three or four bushels per acre, as may be 

 required for feeding all the stock in tlie spring from the 

 time it first begins to show a head until it is nearly ready 

 to bloom. The cutting will begin, according to the carliness 

 or lateness of the season, from the first to the middle of 

 May; and, if several sowings are made, the cutting may 

 continue about three weeks, the earliest-sown being about 



