PASTURES AND GRAZING THEM BY SHEEP I/ 1 



when and where these crops may be used to supplement 

 the grass pastures. 



Winter rye, much the best of the small cereals to fur- 

 nish grazing for sheep, is most useful in furnishing graz- 

 ing to breeding ewes and their lambs in the quite early 

 spring, even in advance of succulent grazing furnished by 

 the grass pastures. Cropping it closely should prevent 

 all danger from ergot, which in some areas has been 

 known to produce abortion on rich soils. But it is some- 

 times grown also to furnish grazing in the autumn. Win- 

 ter wheat in certain areas, as Kansas, is sometimes grazed 

 by sheep in winter. Spring rye and all the other small 

 cereals named may be grown if necessary to provide suc- 

 culent grazing in the early summer, but for such a use 

 they are not extensively grown. 



The Canada pea is seldom grown by itself to provide 

 grazing for sheep, but it is in combinations, to some ex- 

 tent, as is shown below. The common vetch is consid- 

 erably grown to provide grazing for sheep in proximity 

 to the Pacific, and in the vicinity of the Great Lakes and 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence it may come to be freely grown 

 for such a use. Southward from where highest adapta- 

 tion is found for the common vetch, the sand or hairy 

 vetch grows at its best, even as far south as the Gulf of 

 Mexico, when sown at the proper season. All these are 

 sown to provide succulent grazing in the spring and early 

 summer, and the Canada pea and summer vetch are also 

 sometimes sown to provide food for fattening. The cow- 

 pea also furnishes good supplemental grazing. 



Indian corn may under certain conditions be sown to 

 provide summer grazing for sheep, but it is better suited 

 to furnish food on which sheep may be fattened while 

 they are harvesting the corn. Sweet sorghum, and also 

 the non-saccharine sorghums, may be sown to provide 

 midsummer grazing, and thus help out the pastures; espe- 

 cially in dry areas and in dry seasons. Sheep are not so 

 fond of such grazing, however, as of that furnished by 



