CHAPTER VIII 



THE GROWING OF TARES 



As a general rule, in a Continuous Cropping 

 rotation, a lea corn crop is followed by a crop of 

 mixed vetches and cereals. Sometimes peas and 

 beans are also added. All the different types of 

 mixtures are referred to as '* tares." 



Tares form one of the most valuable crops in the 

 system, whether the object be the production of beef, 

 mutton or milk. Because of the high feeding value 

 of the crop, and because it contains such a high 

 percentage of proteins, or albuminoids, a good 

 breadth of tares enables the farmer to produce these 

 food products in a very economical manner. 



We shall have more to say on this point later, but 

 in passing, it may be remarked, that the reason why 

 the writer was able to turn out, in one year, finished 

 beef and mutton to the value of £5,188 14s. 7d. on 

 the farm referred to in the first chapter, with an 

 expenditure of only £81 2s. 2d. on purchased cakes 

 and meals, was because of the large amount of tares 

 grown and used for green soiling, as hay and 

 ensilage, along with an equivalent area of " winter 

 greens," which also have high albuminous contents. 



VALUE OF TARES 



There is nothing new in growing tares. In Southern 

 English counties they have been grown from time 

 immemorial, as they also have been elsewhere. There 



