50 FITTING SHEEP FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 



Spring Crops. 



Up-to-date shepherds and flockmasters are alive to the 

 value of succulent rations for their show animals and aim to 

 get same as early in the spring as possible. Nothing in this 

 country, by the author's way of thinking, furnishes anything 

 like so early and desirable a succulent food, in early spring, 

 .as the sand vetch and rye sown together, the latter part of 

 August, or beginning of September. The sand vetch is a 

 winter vetch, which furnishes a most abundant and valuable 

 spring fodder crop, which conies early to cutting or pastur- 

 ing, is a rapid grower, and much relished by all kinds of 

 stock. Both ewes and lambs make rapid gains when fed 

 <laily rations of it. 



It is advisable to cut this as, in fact, it is all spring fodder 

 crops of a very succulent nature some little time before it 

 is intended to be fed so as to allow of its becoming wilted. 

 Danger from bloat is then reduced to a minimum. 



The crops that should succeed the above mentioned are: 

 Oats and spring vetches (sown together broadcast, prefer- 

 ably); oats and peas; then rape, cabbage, etc., in the order 

 named. Thousand-headed kale is a wonderful cropper, and 

 -very nutritious, and is greatly relished by sheep. Clover 

 hay and grain should be fed in conjunction with the above- 

 named valuable crops; it will keep the bowels in a healthy 

 state. I have also found specially prepared lamb foods fed in 

 conjunction with the other rations, of immense help in forc- 

 ing along the lambs. 



