CHEMISTRY OF THE SILO. 137 



Rape, I am inclined to think, might prove a valuable 

 forage crop, especially winter rape. It might be sown 

 before the corn is cut, and would doubtless make a heavy 

 growth before the hard frosts. It would shade and pro- 

 tect the ground from washing, and furnish good pastur- 

 age in the fall for sheep. In the spring it could be cut 

 and packed in the Silo, or turned under as a green ma- 

 nure. The expense for seed would be much less than 

 for winter rye or oats. 



In many sections the heavy crops of weeds which 

 grow upon fallow lands might be mowed before they 

 become too hard, and packed in Silo. They would make 

 an excellent food for sheep at least a portion of the time. 

 If cut when very green and succulent, they might be 

 mixed with oat or even wheat straw, and thereby convert 

 the straw into a very good quality of forage. 



