222 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



feeding for a period more or less prolonged; 4. 

 the plants are not easily harvested owing to the in- 

 tertwining habit of growth in the tendrils. Never- 

 theless it would not be prudent to claim that there 

 is no place for the flat pea in our agriculture. It 

 may yet be grown to provide soiling food or pasture 

 in the south and also in the far west. The sands of 

 the semi-arid country may yet be made to produce 

 this crop where, in the absence of irrigation, they 

 will not produce much else. It is at least worthy of 

 further trial in the volcanic soils of the western 

 mountain plateaus. 



White Mustard. White mustard (Sinapis 

 alba)is grown more or less as a food for live stock 

 in many of the countries of Europe. Heretofore 

 it has been grown chiefly in gardens, only, in 

 America. But in this country, as in Europe, it may 

 doubtless be turned to good account in furnishing 

 food for live stock. But when so fed it should be 

 as a part of a ration rather than as the whole. When 

 thus fed in proper combinations, it acts as a corrector 

 of digestion. When fed with rape, for instance, it 

 lessens the danger from bloating. When grown 

 as a green food therefore it should be along with 

 some such crop as rape, and the two plants can be 

 cut and fed together. But there is a higher value 

 from growing white mustard along with rape which 

 is to be pastured off. When thus grown the tops of 

 the mustard plants being taller than those of the 

 rape are likely to be eaten first, so that the danger of 

 bloating is thereby lessened. Mustard is not suffi- 

 ciently nutritious to rely upon it as the sole food 

 fed for any prolonged period. Since it is a quick 



