PASTURAGE AND FEEDING FOR PROFIT. 787 



porous but rich soil. Hence, if the soil is stiff, it may be opened by 

 plowing under long manure deeply. If already too light, give it cow 

 manure, ashes, and such special manures .as you may be in the habit of 

 using. 



Corn is the great soiling crop for farm animals North and South. Next 

 come sorghum, and the many varieties of Doura corn or East Indian millet. 

 In the South, cow-peas are valuable. Alfalfa, once it is established, gives 

 heavy cuttings of fodder. In the North this plant has not, as a rule, 

 proved valuable, but some varieties of the cow-pea can be grown and 

 matured in from seven to eight weeks. It is worthy of experiment. 

 Sown after the nights become warm, this crop is a most valuable one to 

 turn under as a fertilizer if not wanted for feeding. 



With proper cure in seeding thick on rich soil, any forage crop may 

 be cut with a mowing machine, so that the labor of gathering is compara- 

 tively light, and it may be fed occasionally in the field or in the yards, 

 night and morning, or only at night, as circumstances may dictate. 



It must be remembered as a first principle in feeding, whether for 

 growth or for fattening, that animals must not be allowed to shrink, 

 since every time they do so it is at a loss (jf flesh to themselves and of 

 profit to the owner. 



IV. Pasture the Poor Man's Wealth. 



Upon plenty of good pasture depends success in summer feeding ; 

 with the majority of farmers the pasture provides the sole summer feed. 

 Hence the necessity that it be strong and vigorous. Nothing is gained 

 by overstocking a pasture. It is better to get rid of some of the stock 

 than to feed the pasture too close, for animals that have to busy them- 

 selves all day to satisfy the cravings of their stomachs never come out fat. 

 If you have i)rovided for contingencies, by means of fodder, you may, 

 of course, stock your pastures closer than otherwise. If not, stock them 

 only so the cattle can easily supply their wants. 



V. The Valuable Clovers. 



The best clovers, or those which do well generally, are practically in- 

 cluded in three species, viz : The Red clover, the White or Dutch 

 clover, and the Alsike clover. The soils best adapted to Red clover are 

 such as will bring good crojjs of winter grain, though Red clover does 

 well on all soils which do not heave badly in winter. 



White clover will grow on any land adapted to Blue grass, and also 

 on many rather moist soils. It favors a firm, not a spongy soil. It must 

 be confessed that cattle do not like it, but it makes rich feed, and if 

 mixed with Blue grass, or other soft grass, cattle will take both together 



