FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 159 



or rain, as bloat may be the result It is always well to see 

 that the sheep have their stomachs well filled before being^ 

 turned into the rape field. By thus doing, danger from bloat 

 is minimized. 



Rape in the Corn Field. 



Sowing rape in the cornfield before the cultivator at the 

 last cultivation of the corn is in some seasons very desirable 

 and profitable, while in others it cannot be said to be a suc- 

 cess, especially in times of drought. However, as the cost 

 is small it is not out of place to make it a rule to sow some 

 on this plan yearly. It is, outside of the cost of seed and 

 the little time it takes in sowing, clear profit, and of no small 

 benefit in crowding out obnoxious weeds which would other- 

 wise infest the land. What few weeds grow up among the 

 rape furnis'hes a tonic for the sheep that are put into the 

 field. It is remarkable that more of this valuable forage 

 plant is not grown in this way when one takes into con- 

 sideration the small cost of producing same and the large 

 amount of valuable food it furnishes. 



Ensilage. 



Good, sweet ensilage makes a first-class ration for sheep, 

 especially for fattening sheep. I have fed largely of it, but 

 to be candid I consider it a little too heating and fattening 

 for breeding ewes where fed in anything like large quantities. 

 Where fed in moderate quantities it is not only a useful 

 ration, but is also a valuable tonic, especially where the shep- 

 herd has not been wise in providing an abundance of roots. 

 Mouldy ensilage should not under any consideration be fed 

 to any class of sheep, as it will most assuredly cause serious 

 disturbance of the stomach and bowels. 



