MANAGEMENT OF A BREEDING FLOCK ON THE CHALKS. 



A Wiltshire Rotation. There is a rotation described as the 

 Wiltshire, which is somewhat representative of the system of 

 cropping on the Western Downs, and it would be difficult to formu- 

 late a more representative one, though I must confess that during 

 the several years I lived on the Wilts and Hants border, I rarely 

 saw it carried out with any strictness. Even were it set out to 

 follow it, the difficulty of getting root crops to establish themselves 

 in dry years, and the disturbance to the food supply immediately 

 and for some time ahead, come as disturbing elements ; and, 

 more generally, the cropping is taken in accordance with the 

 frequency with which the land can reasonably be asked to grow 

 corn crops, and the requirements of the flock. Seeds, for instance, 

 are often taken with greater frequency than are set out ; moreover, 

 when one year's young seeds fail, the old ones are frequently left 

 to stiffen the food supply in the next year. The growing of roots 

 in one year, followed by roots again, can only be accomplished 

 on land with much lime in its composition. Indeed, it may be 

 said that the land is subjected to a whirlwind of cropping, with 

 never a lull in the storm. A very essential crop, sainfoin, is not 

 mentioned, but this does not come into rotation, and may remain 

 down three to seven years, according to the ability of the land 

 to carry it. 



The following is the Wiltshire rotation referred to : First year, 

 winter rye, trifolium, winter barley or winter oats, sown in autumn, 

 as catch crops fed in spring, followed same year by roots ; second 

 year, barley ; third year, clover ; fourth year, wheat ; fifth year, 

 winter vetches, followed by late roots for spring feed ; sixth year, 

 forward or early turnips ; seventh year, wheat ; eighth year, barley. 



In the section on The Green Food Supply a summary of the 

 succulent foods, and the seasons when they are available, are given. 

 It is possible to get these over a very large portion of the country, 

 particularly on the lighter and easier -working soils ; but whilst 

 all these may be got on the Downs and accompanying land at the 

 seasons given, it would be unusual to find all in other districts, 

 though more catch cropping is possible in many districts. There 

 are exceptional crops in districts where the climate is exceptional 

 as, for instance, on the Suffolk coast the winters are so mild that 

 August transplanted cabbages stand over winter, and are often 

 relied upon to give lamb food in March. Hearting cabbages, 

 however, can rarely be depended upon after Christmas, but 

 thousand-head kale comes to its best in spring before the sprouts 

 burst into flower. In February, in Down-land, white turnip-tops 

 both from those sown early enough to bulb, and also from those 

 sown thickly in the autumn are very popular with freshly-lambed 

 ewes. In fact, very considerable areas of the latter are commonly 

 provided. Rape is a very popular crop on the Downs, and is 



