SHEEP PASTURES. 27 1 



factory, all things considered, than any other in pro- 

 viding pasture in the autumn after the arrival of 

 heavy frosts. Severe frosts injure cabbage less 

 than rape. If given time enough, sheep will eat the 

 cabbage down close to the stem and with almost 

 no waste. 



When to Begin Pasturing. — The stage of 

 advancement in the various crops at which the pas- 

 turing ought to commence will depend upon various 

 conditions, as, for instance, the area to be pastured, 

 the habit of growth in the crop and the char- 

 acter of the season. The larger the area to be 

 eaten down, the greater the tendency in the plants 

 to sprout up again, and the more moist the sea- 

 son, the sooner may the stock be turned into 

 the pasture to graze upon it. 



The pasturing of zvinter rye in the spring 

 should begin ordinarily as soon as the rye has begun 

 to grow vigorously, and the aim in pasturing should 

 be to keep it short. It is then more relished and it 

 also furnishes more pasture. In no instance should 

 it be allowed to reach the stage of shooting up to 

 form the ear before it is grazed down. 



Peas and oats should not be allowed to get more 

 than six to ten inches high before the pasturing is 

 commenced, and when the area sown is large, it may 

 be advantageous to turn in the stock before the crop 

 reaches the hight of six inches. 



The pasturing of rape may begin when the 

 plants are, say, twelve inches above the ground, but 

 it would seem to be true that more pasture will be 

 obtained if the rape is allowed to attain its full 

 growth before it is eaten down, and the pasture thus 

 obtained is probably more valuable. If more than 



