PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING 



^ , p Sheep are naturally grazing animals, 



Good Pastures anc j un j e ss they have adequate pastures 

 Important they will not thrive. We have said 



before that they eat go per cent of all 

 the species of weeds commonly found on the farm. 

 Furthermore, they will clean up the hedgerows and the 

 fence lines. But this should not be taken to imply that 

 they can as well do without better pastures. Sheep 

 deserve and need the best pastures we can make and 

 will thrive in proportion to the quality of forage they 

 get from the pasture. 



For sheep, grass should not be per- 

 Value of mitted to grow too high, however. 



Native Grass Sheep need short sweet grasses. Wing 



says that the wild pasture grasses are 

 best, and should be developed as much as possible. He 

 also says that there are many kinds of pasture plants we 

 can use to advantage, some of which are discussed in the 

 following paragraphs. 



Rye is a sweet succulent pasture 

 Rye Good and and is easily grown. It is not rich in 

 Easy to Grow food value but is very wholesome ; 



and because of the ease with which 

 it can be grown, is popular in all parts of the country. 

 If the spring grain fields are put into winter rye, this 

 will provide good feeding for the flock until time for 

 planting the spring grain crop. Rye can be planted in 

 any kind of waste place with good effect and will always 

 pay for the trouble and cost. 



If the land is suitable, hairy vetch 

 Vetch can be sown with the rye and the two 



and Rye will make a good food combination in 



spring. This will make a longer season 

 for grazing and a better food, but cannot be so closely 

 grazed in winter. A good plan will be to put part of 

 the land into rye, and part into vetch and rye, and have 

 a movable fence for a partition. 



Page Thirty-Eight 



