44 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



particularly the cutting and hauling of small areas of green 

 feed every day, regardless of weather conditions, in this 

 way not being economical in the use of labor and machinery. 



Soiling is well adapted mainly to the feeding of dairy 

 cows, and is practically the only way to utilize certain 

 crops, such as thousand-headed kale and spineless cactus. 

 For short periods of time especially in the absence or 

 scarcity of other feed soiling is often utilized by dairy- 

 men. 



In the tropics, soiling is the common method of feeding 

 roughage, not only to cattle, but to city horses. This is 

 especially the case where labor is cheap, and humid con- 

 ditions prevent the curing of hay. Grasses of various 

 kinds are cut green, tied into bundles and thus marketed 

 fresh each day. Among the grasses thus commonly used 

 for horses are Guinea-grass, Para-grass, and Bermuda-grass. 

 In the Philippine Islands, Bareet grass (Homalocenchrus 

 hexandrus) is extensively cultivated about the towns for 

 this purpose. 



Soiling such crops as millet, kale, sorghum, etc., is 

 usually preferable to pasturing, at least for cattle. The 

 latter method occasions much loss by trampling, and 

 expense for temporary or permanent fences. On the 

 other hand, soiling involves the expense of cutting and 

 hauling green feed daily, and the planning of a succession 

 of crops so that each will be ready when needed in ample 

 quantity. On these accounts soiling is seldom used in 

 America except to tide over a temporary shortage of feed. 

 Instead of soiling, the practice is growing of feeding silage 

 the whole year, thus securing a succulent feed and avoid- 

 ing the difficulties involved in soiling. 



36. Soiling systems. A succession of crops to provide 

 green feed for a season or for a portion of a season is called 



