GROWING FEED FOB FATTENING SHEEP 83 



from seventy to one hundred days. This amount of gain 

 will in most cases fatten them. These results are obtained 

 on the undergrowth alone, for the lambs will not eat the corn 

 under ordinary conditions unless forced or taught to do it. 



GROWING THE CROPS FOR SYSTEM II, OR THE PASTURING 

 OF A FORAGE CROP GROWN BY ITSELF 



Crops grown alone. Crops that are commonly grown by 

 themselves, to be pastured down while green by fattening 

 sheep, and in some cases by hogs, are rape, cowpeas, field 

 peas, and, in the South, peanuts. The latter are essentially a 

 hog crop, so their growth and use will not be discussed here. 



Rape. It is a common and useful practice to sow rapeseed 

 in grain when it is from two to four inches high, or with the 

 spring grain crop. In either case it is broadcasted at the rate 

 of from three to four pounds per acre and lightly harrowed. 

 When the main crop is removed the rape comes on, and during 

 favorable years makes a very excellent growth. In preparing 

 the ground for a crop of rape great pains should be taken 

 to make a very fine seed bed. Rapeseed is quite small, and 

 if sown on lumpy, ill-prepared ground a large amount of it 

 may never grow. Too much emphasis cannot be laid on the 

 good results attending a well-made seed bed and the great 

 possibility of a failure if the seed is planted on carelessly pre- 

 pared ground. Rape may be sown from early spring to July. 

 The common practice is to broadcast it and drag it in, but a 

 very much better yield can be obtained by drilling it in rows 

 with a small garden drill, using from three to four pounds 

 per acre. The rows should be far enough apart to permit of 

 cultivation, and each time the rape is pastured down the 

 stock should be turned oft 7 and the cultivator started. If the 



