THE SOILING SYSTEM 29 1 



Pastures will, no doubt, long remain important 

 in all sections where live stock are grown. Though 

 it is true that the pasture system calls for at least 

 twice the number of acres that are necessary where 

 the soiling system is followed, it must be remem- 

 bered that with pastures, less labor is required, less 

 attention is needed for looking after the stock, and 

 the items of detail, incidental to soiling, do not 

 arise. 



For these reasons permanent pastures are to be 

 desired ; in fact, they should be increased and made 

 better. Where lands are exceptionally high in value, 

 the reason for the soiling system becomes manifest 

 at once ; but where lands are cheap, there is no rea- 

 son why the pasture should not be employed in the 

 cheap production of pork or beef, or why it should not 

 enter very largely into the production of dairy products. 



Good permanent pastures are worthy of more 

 attention than they have received. If they 

 have not done their work well, it is because their 

 owners have given them too little attention. To 

 merit praise they must give much grazing and con- 

 stant grazing. The temporary pasture occurs only 

 as a feature of short rotations, as when grain crops 

 are raised. It is really an incident rather than a 

 first consideration ; being such, development of 

 grass and turf, both of which are basic features of 

 the permanent pasture, is not expected. 



Rape Supplements Pastures. On the other hand, 

 poor pasture fields may be supported by the use of 

 supplementary crops, foremost among which is rape 

 an admirable food for sheep and swine and val- 



