CROPS FOR SOILING AND FODDER. 



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UNIVERSITY 



CHAPTER V. 



CROPS FOR SOILING AND FODDER. 



(Mr. C.) The first of these in importance as regards time, in my 

 opinion, is rye, which we have just discussed in a preceding chapter. 

 I have commenced cutting it by the 10th of May, and by cutting it 

 while young, or say three feet high, if wanted to cut the second time 

 in about three weeks, a fair feeding can be had, which will supply 

 the wants of stock until lucern or clover or orchard grass is ready ; 

 or oats and peas, which are ready for soiling usually by the 20th of 

 June. When the oats and peas become hard or dry, fodder corn 

 which has been planted the first week in May will take their place, 

 and by sowing at intervals of one or two weeks up to the 10th of 

 August, will give a continuous supply until frost. These are tlie 

 different kinds of crops used for soiling, named in the order in which 

 they are ready to use for that purpose. 



Q. I observe, Mr. Crozier, that you do not mention having used 

 tares or vetches for soiling or fodder. 



A. I have tried to grow vetches for two seasons. The first 

 season I imported seed of the Gray Yetch from England and it was a 

 complete failure. Well knowing that this is one of the best soiling 

 crops in Europe, I purchased the second year twenty pounds of seed 

 which was grown in the vicinity of Montreal, Canada. This was a 

 variety of Black Vetch, or tare, and did better, but was not satisfac- 

 tory ; and hence, as far as my experience has gone, I have come to 

 the conclusion that the vetch is not suited for our latitude, and I 

 doubt much if it will be found suitable for any part of America, 

 unless it be the extreme northern portion of Canada ; or possibly 

 in the Southern States, as a winter crop, for which the winter variety 

 would undoubtedly be found useful to supply green forage or 

 pasture. I have also tried to my complete satisfaction, and to my 

 sorrow let me add, the Prickly Comfrey, which I consider one of the 

 biggest frauds that ever was perpetrated on the agricultural com- 

 munity. Whether or not I had trained my cows by careful feeding 

 to be somewhat of epicures, I do not know, but certain it is that 

 they turned up their noses at the Prickly Comfrey and w r ould have 

 nothing to do with it. 



