POI?rTS IX ROTATIONS o9 



be made beforehand, or a period will occur when 

 there is a lack of sufficient food. In the central 

 states, the period hkely to be most difficult to fill 

 is the latter part of July and early August, espe- 

 cially should the season be so dry as to prevent max- 

 imum grow^th. To avoid interruptions, it is neces- 

 sary, therefore, to plant a larger area and plan for 

 a greater quantity of food than would be requisite if 

 normal conditions prevailed. It is also necessary, 

 if the land is to be fully occupied and maximum 

 yields secured, that care be taken to follow the 

 schedule of seeding and harvesting very closely. 

 A difference of two or three days in the time of 

 seeding, especially in spring, will very often make 

 a difference of ten days in the time of harvesting. 

 This is particularly true in the case of oats and 

 peas. 



The period required for growing the crop to the 

 proper stage, as well as the period during which 

 crops may be useful for forage, will also vary to 

 some extent; but if harvesting is begun early 

 enough, as pointed out in the discussion of indi- 

 vidual crops, the period of usefulness will range 

 from six days to two weeks. For example, rye 

 seeded at different times will in some seasons pro- 

 vide excellent forage for fully two weeks, while in 

 certain other seasons, especially if the early season 

 is dry and hot, profitable feeding cannot be con- 

 tinued for more than a week or ten days. The 



