SHEEP AS IMPROVERS OF CROP YIELDS 17 



rather than injury to the crop that would follow. Any 

 weeds growing up amid the rape would be consumed by the 

 sheep. The only real hazard incurred would be the possi- 

 bility of having too much straw in the grain crop that would 

 follow, because of the fertility left on the surface of the soil 

 by the sheep. 



Freeing lands from weeds Many kinds of weeds 

 may be eradicated by simply growing crops in close suc- 

 cession and grazing them down with sheep. When thus 

 grazed the land is divided by fences, portable or other- 

 wise, so that the grazing may be conducted in alternation 

 on the different inclosures. The succession of crops is so 

 close that each division of the land is made to produce 

 two and in some instances three crops in one season. 

 The crops thus grown are annuals, and some mature so 

 quickly that they may be regarded as catch crops when 

 thus grown. But it is necessary while grazing sheep thus 

 to have a grass pasture in reserve on which the sheep 

 may be grazed when the wet condition of the ground may 

 make it inadvisable to continue the grazing on the lands 

 on which the crops are grown in succession. 



The crops best adapted for such grazing will depend 

 to a considerable degree on the conditions that relate to 

 soil and climate. Soils low in adaptation are those classed 

 as clay, because vegetation on these grows slowly and 

 they impact readily if grazed when wet. Nor do light 

 sands rank high for such a use, because of the amount of 

 fertilization which they require to produce good grazing, 

 especially when the grazing of these is first begun. Loam 

 soils, and especially sandy loams, have highest adaptation 

 for being thus grazed. 



In the north the crops that may be grown thus in- 

 clude rye, mixed grains, rape, cabbage, corn and sorghum. 

 In the central states, cowpeas and soy beans may be 

 added to the list. In the far western states, kale and 

 vetches may be added, but not soy beans and cowpeas. 

 In the Atlantic states, the list may include all those 



