•TO March. 1909.] 



Progressive Farming. 



167 



"drilled in during the early part of 

 December. Some portions of the 

 paddock are sown with one variet)- 

 • alone. In other parts two are 

 mixed and in some portions three 

 ••jnay be seen springing up together. 

 From the experience obtained last 

 summer it is found that the sheep 

 take to the Japanese millet and 

 . amber cane first, leaving the rape 

 and maize to be negotiated at a 

 later stage of growth. No diffi- 

 -culty has been experienced by the 

 sheep up to the present in feeding 

 -off the largest stems of the maize 

 and amber cane grown in this way. 

 Naturally it takes some little time 

 for them tO' become accustomed to 

 the unusual kind of fodder, but 

 like the pigs of Eastern Gippsland 

 it is not long before they become 

 thoroughly at home amongst the 

 largest maize stalks. The effect 

 of crowding a large number of 

 sheep on a comparatively small 

 area bearing a heavy crop of suc- 

 ■culent vegetation in the middle of 

 summer* rapidly becomes apparent. 

 Lambs, wethers and ewes alike 

 •continue thriving and sappy at a 

 iperiod when without this provision 

 'they would either come to a stand- 

 still or else go backward. From 

 the point of view of the sheep 

 there is no doubt that this method 

 is an absolute success. The effect 

 from the point of view of the land 

 •\vill take a few years to fully de- 

 >monstrate, but if we can draw any 

 •conclusions from the experience 

 which underlies the best farm 

 practice in all parts of the world 

 there can be no doubt, whatever, 

 that the incorporation of large 

 quantities of sheep manure into the 

 soil will very soon produce notable 

 ■effects. 



