ROTATION OF CROPS 218 



for the sheep flocks during the greater part 

 of the year. During winter, turnips and 

 swedes are chiefly depended on, followed 

 by winter rye, winter barley, winter vetches, 

 kale, rape, and crimson clover, to be con- 

 sumed throughout March, April, and May. 

 During the consumption of the crimson 

 clover and rye, the sheep are often allowed 

 a certain quantity of mangolds, which are 

 either cut and placed in troughs, or are 

 thrown down whole in the daily fold. By 

 the time these crops are consumed, ordinary 

 clover and seeds' mixtures are ready for 

 folding, or the flock is turned out to graze 

 in the open field or upon the Down. About 

 the month of July the aftermath of the 

 clover is ready to be folded, to be followed 

 later by mustard and early turnips. Rape 

 is a great stand-by in Down farming, it 

 being consumed either in autumn or spring, 

 when, often in conjunction with thousand- 

 headed kale, it gives a large quantity of 

 succulent food. 



The yields of some of the crops mentioned 

 are, in the districts indicated, too small to 

 make it profitable for the farmer to devote 

 a whole year to the growth of the crop con- 

 cerned. He must therefore endeavour to 

 grow such a folding crop as mustard, crimson 



