CHAPTER XII. 



THE GREEN FOOD SUPPLY. 



The simplest system of sheep-keeping is that by which the 

 animals are fed on grass throughout the year. Here the supply 

 of food is dependent on the amount of grass grown, and varies 

 with the productiveness of the season. The system most requiring 

 skill and forethought is where the sheep are kept entirely on crops 

 of arable land, while the mixture of grass and arable land crops 

 is midway between the two. The crops which are most serviceable 

 on arable land may be divided accordingly as they are suitable 

 for particular times of the year. It is usual to divide the sheep 

 year into two portions, one commencing at the beginning of 

 November and lasting until the end of April, known as the winter 

 season, and the other occupying the remaining portion of the year, 

 known as the summer season. The winter is the season of root 

 crops, the summer of grass, clover, and other green crops. The 

 same kind of roots are not so valuable at all periods of the winter 

 season, and a succession of crops suitable must be arranged. By 

 dividing the year into the following periods, the crops which are 

 most reliable, and are best suited in ordinary seasons, are readily 

 seen, though, of course, they overlap to some small extent. 



Swedes. Swede turnips should not be fed before November, 

 as, although they may have acquired size, they are not ripe., 



