CHAPTER XXII. 



ROOTS AND FODDERS. 



Dependence on pasture growth generally extends in 

 New Zealand from about October to March. The growth 

 then is fairly reliable for fattening purposes or good 

 condition maintenance. For the other six months of the 

 year these ends are only intermittently attained on pas- 

 ture growth, and sheep have often to put up with a 

 scanty or watery and poorly sun-strengthened growth, or 

 one of inferior, sun-cured grasses that may be more or 

 less soiled or rotted grasses that have been allowed to 

 get away by the stock on account of their inferiority. 

 The position obviously suggests the taking of steps to 

 create a more proportionate perennial thrift of the 

 animal towards a greater and better output of wool, 

 mutton, constitution, and fecundity. Thrift should be 

 continuous with stock, and there is every encourage- 

 ment to make it so by growing special crops on the good 

 soils, with the favourable climate and rainfall of New 

 Zealand. The number of fodder and root crops that can 

 be set on a journey of successful growth when the ele- 

 ments of sun and rain are favourable is very great. They 

 come in for direct use at several periods of the year, or 

 can be conserved and fed to sheep as opportunity re- 

 quires. The grasses and the great lucerne may be made 

 into hay ; oats may be grown, cured and chaffed ; rape 

 and thousand-headed kale are valuable fodders, and tur- 

 nips and mangels are roots of importance to the better 

 carying on of the sheep industry. Peas are a good and 

 profitable topping-off food for sheep, and it often pays 

 well to use oats for the purpose. It is surprising the 

 small attention that is paid to the growing of lucerne. 

 Probably the time will come when a good part of the 



