FORAGE CROPS 119 



prepared and the peas and oats then sown separately. This 

 crop is ready to use in about sixty days from the time of sow- 

 ing. When the oats are headed and the peas are in blossom, 

 the crop is ready to cut. This mixture also makes excellent 

 hay when dried, especially for cows and sheep. 



Indian corn is also a good soiling crop. If the farmer is 

 short of pasture he can use his green corn to good advantage 

 by feeding some each day to his milch cows. Sweet corn is 

 often raised for soiling purposes. It grows quickly and the 

 stalks are sweeter than other corn. Cow-peas and soy-beans 

 may also be used for soiling purposes, especially the cow-peas. 



Pastures. — Most farmers depend upon pastures for all of 

 their green feed. Native grasses, like blue grass and the wild 

 grasses of the woodlands, furnish most of the pasturage. 

 Other grasses, like orchard grass, tall oat grass, smooth 

 brome grass, and Italian rye grass also make good pastures, 

 and farmers would do well to cultivate these grasses. Two 

 or more kinds of grasses are usually sown together for pasture. 

 When this is done the ground is better covered, and one kind is 

 likely to grow better at one time of the year than the other, so 

 that more pasture is obtained. In making up a mixture of 

 seeds for a pasture, the clovers should never be left out, espe- 

 cially the alsike and white clover. The white clover never 

 grows big enough to make hay, but always holds its place in 

 pastures. 



Rape is a plant that is being grown more every year for 

 sheep and hog pasture. The Dwarf Essex is the variety most 

 commonly grown. Rape will grow on any land that will pro- 

 duce good corn. The soil is prepared the same as for corn, ex- 

 cept that the seed-bed must be finer. Rape is sown from 

 early. spring to mid-summer. Where small areas are sown, the 



