8 Xov., 1907.] Rape and h' odder Crops for l.aiuh Raising. 667 



RAPE AND FODDER CROPS FOR LAMB RAISING. 



H. 11'. Ham, SJiecp l-'.xperi. 



Rape and barlev, rape and oats, turnips, &c., for turning ewes on to 

 just after lambing, with the object of getting the lambs away at about 

 four months old are being found most profitable crops and at the same 

 time a means of cleaning and manuring for successful grain crops to fol- 

 low is secured. To be most profitable, an effort should be made to have 

 these fodder crops well established just as the lambs are from two to 

 three weeks old. A mistake often made is, that the crop is fed off too 

 soon ; it should be stocked up about three weeks or a month before com- 

 mencing to run tO' seed. A few sheep to even off the crop may be 

 allowed on all along, but never to- the extent of checking it. Rape and 

 barley in some districts are found to produce the greater amount of feeding 

 from start to finish, and when there is a grass paddock close by fox the 

 ewes to go into, or a straw stack that they can get at, the sloppiness of 

 the rape in showery weather is counteracted. The best results in fatten- 

 ing sheep and lambs have been obtained when the sheep have had access 

 to pea-straw while on rape and barley. Rape and Algerian oats also 

 give a large amount of feeding. Oats finish best, being good feed 

 when out m ear, but with barlev it is not so. Rape alone is mono- 

 tonou^^ and sloppy in showery weather; mustard, if added, is of advan- 

 tage tO' counteract this, but is usually eaten out early, and, with first 

 showers after being eaten out does not come again with the rape. A 

 mixture of barlev or oats with, the rape, together with a straw stack or 

 pasture for them to go to is preferable. 



Nothing gives more feed in root crops than turnip-s, and this crop also 

 allows of a fair area to be grown. Further there is no other crop that 

 will make the sheep leave more manure per acre. In a crop sown under 

 right conditions, the tops come equal with the rape, although wdien once 

 eaten down will not shoot again like rape. Turnips and rape together 

 give a lot of excellent feed and will fatten a surprising number of sheep, 

 especially if they have access to good pea or oaten straw. 



In forward oaten and wheaten crops, when sown with fertilizers, it 

 is possible to fatten off a few lambs all through the winter. Care should 

 he taken not tO' check the crops too much, and the sheep should be removed 

 when the paddocks get very wet. The fattening is especially possible 

 when the paddocks have been sown to rajie the season before. In the 

 latter case, a forward crop is assured, and it is then found to advantage 

 t> keep it in check by a few ewes and lambs being fattened on it. It 

 will, when done with care and good judgment, also* assist in improving 

 the (luality of grain, there being less straw and flag to be fed by the fer- 

 tilizer through winter and spring. When rape is sown with, the object 

 of running it through the summer tO' catch showers for summer feed it is 

 best sown with fertilizers in early spring. It must lie watched closely, 

 and stocked with ewes and lambs or store sheep, just as the foremost part 

 of the paddock shows the smallest signs of seeding in the fork of the 

 leaves. When this is checked and eaten down sufificiently to stop the seed- 

 ing, the roots will be thoroughly established, and the paddorks can be ease<I 

 oft with the object of running it through the summer. 



Rape and barley should be sown through the drill. Sow half bushel 

 barley per acre, tlirough the seed run, and four ]")Ounds rape per acre, if 



