CHAPTER XXIII 

 THE SOILING SYSTEM 



Farm animals relish succulent feeds. They give 

 the best account of themselves when abundantly 

 supplied with pastures or roots or green crops. 

 This is true, not only of cattle, but of hogs, sheep, 

 swine and poultry. Animal life has been so long 

 adjusted to succulence and vegetable juices that to 

 withhold these for any length of time is to invite 

 loss along all lines of production ; animals do not 

 thrive well when these are withheld. 



When spring comes with its rejuvenating influ- 

 ences manifested in all directions, farm stock eagerly 

 leave dry foods, however rich in nutrition they may 

 be, and revel in the green grasses along the roadside 

 or in the pasture field. You are familiar with the 

 result better quality, more thrifty growth, more 

 meat, more milk. 



Taking the year all around, good pastures are not 

 available for any great length of time ; hence, where 

 well-bred farm animals are appreciated, an impor- 

 tant problem in farm management arises as to the 

 best method of extending the pasture season as long 

 as possible. Succulent foods may be provided by 

 pasture, soiling crops, silage and root crops. They 

 may be just a bit inferior to May and June grazing, 

 but as substitutes they satisfactorily fill the bill. 

 Good silage, after all, is but slightly inferior to green 



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