1 62 FORAGE CROPS. 



Observations. i. The rape crop is sometimes 

 said to be severe on land, that is to say, that it will 

 soon deplete the soil of its fertility. That will 

 depend on the use to which the rape is put. If pas- 

 tured off by live stock, as sheep, for instance, that 

 remain upon the field while they are depasturing the 

 crop, it is difficult to see how it can deplete the soil 

 of its fertility, since what has been produced is put 

 back upon the soil. 



2. It should be remembered that clay lands are 

 unsuitable for being pastured in moist weather, even 

 by sheep, when they are carrying a crop of rape. If 

 they are thus pastured off when in the condition 

 stated, the land will be so impacted as to render sub- 

 sequent cultivation both difficult and costly. 



3. The number of sheep that one acre will sus- 

 tain, and the period through which it w r ill sustain 

 them, will, of course, depend upon the character of 

 the growth in the rape. But an average crop will 

 sustain from ten to fifteen animals per acre for sixty 

 days. At the end of the sixty days they should all 

 be in condition to "take the market," even though 

 lean in form when put upon the rape. 



4. When sheep eat so excessively of rape or 

 of any other fodder plant as to induce bloating, 

 relief must be at once given or the animals will 

 almost certainly die. And they will die with great 

 suddenness. When they are being pastured on 

 rape in large numbers, therefore, a trocar should 

 always be on hand. The moment that a case of 

 bloat is detected, the paunch should be tapped to 

 allow the gas to escape. This is done by striking 

 the trocar into the stomach on the left side and some- 

 what low down in the triangular fleshly space 



