134 CROPS FOR SPECIAL FARM PRACTICES 



A species of pasturing is sometimes known as soiling. By means 

 of movable fences, the animals are allowed to graze a part of the crop 

 clean antl then to move on at the next feeding to fresh foraging. This 

 use of the term is allowable, since the object is the same, — to sui)i)ly 

 the animal with a given amount of succulent food ; the animal does the 

 harvesting. This practice may be known as pasture soiling. 



It would not do to allow animals to roam at will and to gorge themselves 

 in such crops as maize, growing grain, heavy alfalfa, clover, or cowpeas ; 

 consequently the animals are soiled on these crops in one way or another. 



Silage is green or uncured forage that is preserved, or ensiled, in a 

 tight receptacle or silo (see Chap. XXV). The following croj)s have at 

 various times been recommended for ensiling : corn, clovers, alfalfa, 

 meadow-grasses, cowpeas, soybeans, Canada field peas, sorghum, sun- 

 flower, millet, apple pomace, beet pulp, canning house refuse. 



Soiling Crops 



The more important soiling corps are : winter grains (cut before 

 blooming), peas and oats, alfalfa, clover, vetch, soybeans, millet, cow- 

 peas, corn, sorghum, and rape. 



If it is desired to feed green crops throughout the entire season, the 

 following rotation is suggested (Woll) : — 



(1) Winter wheat or rye, ready to cut and feed during May; 



(2) Green clover, for feeding during the early part of June ; 



(3) Oats and peas, sown as early as possible in the spring, and later 

 two or three times at weekly intervals; available for feeding during 

 the remainder of June and July; 



(4) Corn, or corn and sorghum, planted at the usual time, for feeding 

 in August and September; 



(5) The land occupied by oats and peas when cleared may be sown to 

 millet or barley, for feeding during the fall months. 



The following crops for partial soiling are reconmicnded by Jordan : 

 Three sowings of peas and oats in May and early June, and two 

 plantings of corn, one at the usual time, the other two weeks later. 

 These crops will furnish a supply of green feed when this is most likely 

 to be needed. Quincy included four crops in his system, viz. early 

 clover (for feeding during May and June), oats (for July), corn (for 

 August), second growth of clover or grass (September to October 15), 

 tops of carrots and turnips, cabbages (October 15 to November). 



