IIO SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



conveniently lifted with a fork of suitable construc- 

 tion. Also it is one of the safest soiling foods to 

 feed, since it never produces bloating when judi- 

 ciously fed. When the crop cannot be all used in 

 the green form, the portion that remains should be 

 cut and cured for winter feeding before the grain in 

 the pod or the ear has passed the dough stage. The 

 crop may be mowed and cared for after the manner 

 of hay, or when it stands up sufficiently well it may 

 be cut with the binder. When harvested with the 

 binder, the sheaves should be made small and should 

 not be very tightly bound. When the crop is very 

 badly lodged, the pea harvester may be used to better 

 advantage than any other implement in cutting them. 

 The crop may be fed in a pasture, in a paddock, in 

 racks in the shed or in mangers in the stable. 



THE COMMON VETCH. 



Several species of vetches have been grown in 

 this country, but only one of these, viz., the common 

 vetch (Vicia sativa) would seem to have special 

 adaptation for being grown as soiling food. The 

 sand vetch (Vicia villosa*) has been given a consider- 

 able measure of praise during recent years for its 

 ability to furnish green food for stock, but in the 

 judgment of the author its highest use will be found 

 when it is grown as a pasture plant rather than as a 

 soiling food. The common vetch is frequently 

 alluded to as though it embraced two varieties, viz., 

 the winter and spring sorts, but these were originally 

 probably one and the same kind grown at different 

 seasons of the year. 



