Rotation of Soiling Crops. 91 



as it is about a week later. These seedings of rye 

 and wheat should be top-dressed with manure dur- 

 ing the winter. We, of course, cannot use all this 

 rye and wheat next spring for soiling : at least, two 

 acres of this will be plowed under in the spring, but 

 it is better that the land should be growing some- 

 thing during winter, as a mulch and collector of 

 nitrogen, than to lay barren or fallow. Soon as 

 spring opens, we plow under two acres of the four 

 acres. You say, why not let it grow? Because you 

 will not require it all, and because oats and peas are 

 better soiling crops. But, perhaps, you do not like 

 the idea of wasting the seed. Don't be alarmed. 

 That $2 worth of seed has been accumulating many 

 times its cost in plant food during the fall and win- 

 ter. There is nothing lost, but a decided gain. 

 True, the rye is only a few inches high, but the 

 roots have been taking up the plant food from the 

 manure spread upon the land during the winter. 

 Plow it under. Now we come to an important 

 question. How much of this two acres shall we 

 sow to oats and peas at a time? 



One week is about as long as any soiling crop 

 (corn or sorghum excepted) is at its best for soiling. 

 We, therefore, sow enough every week to last a 

 week. If we put in more than this at a time, we 

 either have to begin cutting it before it is at its 

 best, or continue to cut it after it has passed its 

 best. A soiling crop is fit when the grain is well in 

 the milk ; before that it is too watery, after that it 

 soon becomes tough and woody. And right here, 



